'Immigrants' tag shall fuel separatist movement: Irom Sharmila
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2015 : Anti-AFSPA crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila has said that referring to NE people as immigrants in BJP's Vision Document published in connection with Delhi Assembly election would only encourage the separatist movements being witnessed in the North East region.

The marathon hunger stri-ker was speaking to reporters during a brief interaction at Cheirap Court complex as she was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West this morning.

It was Sharmila's first appearance at the Court after she was re-arrested under FIR number 12(1)2015 of City police station under Section 309 IPC on January 24 .

She was taken to JNIMS hospital at around 9 pm on January 23 after her health condition deteriorated as she continued her hunger strike at Shamu Makhong, Khwairamband Keithel.

Irom Chanu Sharmila

Sharmila said that dubbing NE people as 'immigrants' by BJP would only encourage the separatist movements being carried out by different underground outfits in the North East region.

Earlier, the Court remanded Sharmila to judicial custody till February 21 .

It may be mentioned that BJP removed the word, 'immigrant' from their Vision Document after a huge uproar from different sections on February 3 last.

Maintaining that it is clear that mainland India never takes North East States as parts of the country, Sharmila said that it is the reason why draconian AFSPA is enforced in this region.

She questioned why North East States and Kashmir are not allowed to be separated from the Indian Union if BJP, a major political party of the ruling NDA Government at the Centre, has to refer people from the region as immigrants.

It may be mentioned that Sharmila had been released on two different occasions by different Courts in the last six months citing lack of evidence of the charges framed against her under of Section 309 (attempting to commit suicide) and Section 353 (obstruction of police duty) on January 22 last and August 19 last year.