Imphal:
Irom Sharmila, the 44-year-old iconic rights activist, on Tuesday ended her 16-year-long fast against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. She has also shared her desire to be the Chief Minister of Manipur. While addressing the media in Imphal, Irom broke down as she announced that she has ended her fast and said she "will never forget this moment".
She said that some radical groups are against her joining politics. “I don't understand why some radical groups are against me wanting to get into politics?: Irom Sharmila in Imphal. I want to join politics as I've been called the Iron lady of Manipur & I want to live upto that name. I am being the real embodiment of revolution, and I want to be the CM of Manipur to help people,” she said.
"If I become chief minister, the first thing I will do is remove the draconian AFSPA," Sharmila added.
#WATCH: Irom Sharmila ends her fast after 16 years. She was on hunger strike, demanding repealing of AFSPA.https://t.co/ndGmoEuZu8
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
"Let them kill me the way people killed Mahatma Gandhi with accusation of anti-Hindu," she said on receiving death threats.
"A bail bond of Rs 10,000 has been signed but no date of her release has been put forward", said her lawyer.
The family and her supporters, who have not been able to meet her since July 26 when she announced her decision to end her fast and enter politics to ensure that AFSPA is repealed through political means, have no idea where she is going to stay from now on.
"We don't know where she will go after her release. If she wants to come home and stay with us, we are ready to welcome her. But it is her desire," her brother said.
Irom Sharmila had been protesting against a controversial law that gives the Indian army draconian powers to tackle unrest in her home state of Manipur. Refusing food and water for all that time, authorities have kept her alive by force feeding her through a tube in her nose.
Here is what all she said while addressing the media:
I know nothing about politics, and about academic line also. My education is very very low: Irom Sharmila pic.twitter.com/fBk9kYofpk
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
I will never forget this moment: Irom Sharmila after ending fast after 16 years pic.twitter.com/KMhSwCMP5k
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
From today on wards I have ended my fast: Irom Sharmila in Imphal (Manipur) pic.twitter.com/VGtpoZyNuJ
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
I don't understand why some radical groups are against me wanting to get into politics?: Irom Sharmila in Imphal pic.twitter.com/IExXCC8ids
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
I want to join politics as I've been called the Iron lady of Manipur & I want to live upto that name: Irom Sharmila pic.twitter.com/k4URuWm5yt
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 9, 2016
