Am here to raise a point : Irom Sharmila
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, October 31 2014 : After appearing before the Delhi Court today, a harried Irom Sharmila candidly spoke to The Sangai Express in her room at Bir Tikendrajit Manipur House in the afternoon.

Sharmila stated that she found it odd inside the Court room, where there is a lot of commotion.

She does not have much knowledge about Court proceedings, wherein the Judge (s) examined the prosecution witnesses.

This has been going on for two days.

"I am actually confused" she said and added "the next hearing is scheduled in March next year" .

Sharmila said that that she expected more "discipline" in the Court, where she said she was jostled and pushed around.

The security personnel treated me as if I were a criminal, she said and added that she was taken to the Court room in a lock up vehicle "earlier they even took me to the lock up room in the Court premises" .

Irom Sharmila at Imphal Airport on 29 Oct 2014 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

She was reportedly picked up from the airport and taken to Manipur House in the police lock up vehicle.

Though this is the second time that Sharmila has been brought all the way from Imphal to appear before the Court, she has still not signed any document.

In a rather thoughtful tone she said "I was never asked any question nor asked to sign any paper/document.

My presence seemed irrelevant" .

This, she said, was a deliberate attempt.

Making a point, Sharmila said "for me it is not only about standing before a Court, I came to raise my voice" .

Moreover Sharmila never received any Court documents or legal proceedings in her hand.

None of the said documents reached her either.

"In Imphal sometime my defense counsel send me some papers (Court/legal documents).

But I don't have any papers with me regarding the Delhi Court" Sharmila told The Sangai Express.

Sharmila insisted that her presence is mandatory and asserted "I am the accused, it is my case and I have the right to defend myself and I want to defend myself." However she was quick to add that she does not doubt the wisdom of those who defend her ( her defence lawyers) .

On being asked how she felt to the charges that she is attempting suicide and if the case verdict is against her, Sharmila argued, "I am alive, isn't that proof that I do not want to die ? If I had wanted to take my own life, do you think I will still be alive ? Do you think I would not be able to take my own life if I had wanted to do so ?" .

Sharmila said that it would be wrong to term her hunger fast as a lone struggle against AFSPA.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi, Sharmila said movements and struggles are never an individual effort.

"Does anybody equate India's independence movement solely with Gandhi's movement ?" she asked.

To her, all the praises and applause on an individual is to do away with one's own responsibility.

"When people say Sharmila is capable, Sharmila is strong, this means they are passing on the responsibility to me," she observed.

While reiterating on collective responsibility, she asserted "Unity is strength, all must stand together" .

Sharmila is scheduled to leave New Delhi tomorrow.