Strike the iron when it is hot, says Irom Sharmila
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 28 2014 : Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been fasting for the past 14 years demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was to-day produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East at Lamphelpat and the Court further remanded her to judicial custody.

Sharmila was produced before the Court from Jawa-harlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences security ward where she is presently lodged on the charge of trying to commit suicide.

Speaking to media persons at the Court premises on the present agitation for enforcement of the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur, Sharmila said that India being a democratic country, the State Gov- ernment should consider about the demand of ILP seriously.

The Government needs to act keeping in view the pulse of the citizens as they are the representatives of the people.

All the agitators for the ILP in the state need to be united as one for their struggle for implementation of the ILP in the State successful without involvement of any violence, she said.

The agitation can be successful if it is carried out with dedication, sincerity and a conviction that ILP is a must in the State.

She also asked the people to raise their voice in unison.

"After all, people's voice is the God's voice", said the anti-AFSPA crusader.

The agitation should be sustained with all the seriousness it demands instead of raising the demand intermittently.

"Strike the iron when it is hot", Sharmila suggested.

The people representatives should not think that their seat is more important than the aspirations of the people.

On the other hand when asked by a reporter why she did not appear before the Court on her previous appearance date, she said that on that particular date of her appearance the date coincided with another trial at Cheirap court where she had to appear as a witness.

She wanted to appear at the trial but she was asked to appear before the Court for her judicial remand instead of taking her to the Court where the trail was on and she had to appear as a witness.

Subsequently she decided not to go to any of the two Courts, Sharmila added.

Comment