Do those against corruption know about Irom Sharmila?
An article by Gnani Sankaran at DNAIndia.com

The recent media hype and nationwide support for Hazare has more than reconfirmed the fact the India as a whole neglects the Northeastern states of the country. An article in DNA by Gnani Sankaran discusses why the Indian Media ignored the marathon fasting of Irom Sharmila in Manipur.

Now because of Hazare, to become a fighter against corruption has become a fashion. However, the fighters, maximum percentage does not know anything about Irom Sharmila's fast and cause.

He writes, "Dear pseudo-comrades, have you heard of Irom Sharmila, fasting not for one or two days, but a full decade, with absolutely no media hype to create a single candlelight walk by the rich and the affluent of India".

Many don't know how the people of Manipur are living in a place where they cannot roam freely without the fear of death approaching every second. He reminds the how on November 4, Irom Sharmila, a 28-year-old girl, started a fast-unto-death demanding a repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, which empowers the army to kill without being questioned.

When the GOI acted swiftly on negotiating with Hazare, on Sharmila's account, she was arrested for attempting to commit suicide and force-fed by tubes. He feels that timing is very important in politics and media. He writes, "If the government has taken 42 years to draft a Lokpal Bill, Hazare too has taken so long to launch a fast."

If Anna Hazare had been on fast during the World Cup, the media would have blissfully ignored him however, Irom Sharmila continued to fast under arrest while India carried on with elections and cricket. The media almost completely ignored her, or else who would not know about her? Who has done such a feat? She has sacrificed herself for the downtrodden people.

He writes, "Except for a customary and superficial mention every now and then, the entire Indian media ignored her. Why? Because it is unpatriotic to question the army or criticize it, even though it may be as corrupt as our politicians and even more brutal".

Even the Social Commentator, Santosh Desai claims Irom Sharmila's issue doesn't have 'Legitimacy'. If corruption is bad than the act of Armies killing of innocent people who are someone's husband, son, and father or brutally raping someone's mother, wife or daughter under the eye of the government is worse.

As Sankaran rightly pointed out, this activity has been going on in the Northeast irrespective of that party holds power in Delhi. He says, "The candle vigilantes of the educated middle, upper-middle and rich dare not take up issues of human rights violations, or adivasis' traditional right violations. It is easier to shout from the rooftops about corruption while being part of the very same corrupt system in day-to-day life. And the politician is the favorite whipping boy for these classes".

We are not sure if the Lokpal bill will end corruption or not. Sankaran says we have enough laws to book corrupt politicians and public servants. Whatever cases that remain in court against a Lalu Prasad Yadav or Jayalalithaa or Madhu Koda or Ramalinga Raju or Ketan Desai have been booked under existing well-framed laws. He really feels that someone would educate Anna Hazare about a place called Manipur and an unsung heroine called Irom Sharmila. As an Indian citizen, she deserves to be treated like one.



You can read the entire article at DNA website link here.