Irom Sharmila ends fast to contest election, attacks Prime minister

IMPHAL: After 16 years of fast demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Irom Sharmila on Tuesday ended her fast and declared that she will contest assembly polls in 2018 against the Manipur chief minister, O. Ibobi Singh.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi she said Prime ministers indulged in violence and own happiness. “Prime minister can connect to us without discrimination, violence and such laws (AFSPA).

Sharmila pointed out that India ranks 105 th in the happiness index. People of Jammu and Kashmir have right to self-determination.

Ibobi Singh is MLA from Thoubal constituency. Sharmila appeared in the court of the chief judicial magistrate (Imphal west) granted bail to Sharmila on personal bond of Rs 10000. Court has asked her to appear on August 23.

Sharmila after coming of court said, “Despite doing fast for 16 years I got nothing. I have decided to end fast to do something different. This is my decision.”

Inviting 20 independent candidates to join her in election, she added, “I will contest against Manipur chief minister. If am elected and will get power I will struggle for removal of AFSPA. Only talking peace does not help. Presently it is dirty politics, no democracy. ”

She said, “I am embodiment of revolution. I want to be the chief minister despite the fact that I know nothing about politics, my education is low but I want to assure the people that my power will be for them,”

Stating that she does not like the identification of Goddess with her, she said she is normal human being like any other person. When asked about the plans of marriage she said this is personal choice. “Love, marriage is natural, isn’t it? I will meet my mother after such achievement. However will stay in ashram.”

Sharmila explained that she wants to try different method of agitation. Change of AFSPA will come through election.”

Political parties have started sending representatives to the Iron lady. JD (U) general secretary in charge of Northeast India, Arun Kumar Srivastav went to the court to meet Sharmila.

He said, “We will propose her to join the party and will give her ticket.” Sharmila elder brother elder brother Singhajit told ET, “Whatever decision Sharmila takes we are with her. My whole family is with her.”

Convenor of Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) a women’s body set up to show solidarity with Sharmila's struggle, Ima Mon said they will continue struggle for AFSPA repeal.

She said, “We will continue to struggle for repeal of Afspa. Sharmila has played into the hands of government.”: Breaking into tears, Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila today broke her 16-year-old hunger strike, the world's longest, and declared that she wants to become the chief minister so that she could repeal the contentious AFSPA.

Outside a government hospital, a room of which was turned into a jail for her, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist turned emotional as she licked honey from her palm to end the fast that she undertook in protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA).

During her fast she was force-fed through a nasal tube to keep her alive. Now the familiar Ryles tube hanging from her nose was missing as she broke the fast.

"I want to be the chief minister of Manipur to make positive changes..... If I become chief minister, the first thing I will do is to remove the AFSPA," she told reporters here.

"I need power. In Manipur politics is so dirty and everyone knows it. But people don't realise that the people are also involved in this dirtiness," Sharmila said, adding "I want to invite 20 independent candidates to join me and topple Chief Minister Ibobi".

Asked about Narendra Modi, she said, "Mr Prime Minister, you need non-violence in this age. Without this draconian law(AFSPA) you would be able to connect with us. PM Modi needs to follow the path of non-violence of Gandhiji".

She said that she would now stay in an Ashram and wouldn't need any security. "I don't like to be called a Goddess of Manipur. I am a human being," she said.

Earlier in the day, Imphal West district's chief judicial magistrate Lamkhanpau Tonsing in his order said as the offence under section 309 (attempt to suicide) is a bailable offence he is inclined to allow her on bail on her furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000.

After the bond was furnished, it was accepted by the court and a release order issued.

She has been asked to appear before the court again on August 23.: 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila on Tuesday ended her 16-year-long fast against the AFSPA and announced her intention to join politics.

Doctors removed the nasal feed tube from Sharmila, who has been on fast unto death since 2000 to protest the imposition of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur.