Irom supporters observe token fast
Imphal, Nov 6 (PTI) Hundreds of supporters of Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom
Sharmila, whose indefinite hunger-strike for repeal of Armed Forces
Special Powers Act entered 11th year today, went on a fastd here and
across the country. "Hundreds of people from all walks of life came
here to support our cause, observe a token fast and help Sharmila in her
fight," Just Peace Foundation's Onil Kshetrimayum told PTI as
protesters fasted from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm at 25 venues here and the
districts of Manipur. The 39-year-old civil rights activist's elder
brother Irom Singhajit led the mass fast here. Students body All
Manipur Students Union and civil society groups like Sharmila Kanba Lup,
Meira Paibi, senior citizen groups, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network
and those affected by alleged atrocities of the army joined the hunger
strike. Leaders from Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) also lent support.
The Ima Market in the heart of the town and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute
of Medical Sciences, where Sharmila is forcibly nose-fed, were among the
venues of the mass fast. The 'Save Democracy Repeal AFSPA' group
observed fast in other parts of the country also, said civil rights
activist Seram Rojesh Kumar. In Delhi, a day-long fast was held as also
a discussion. Street theatre on democracy and AFSPA, music and poetry
recitals by amateur social-artists were held along with 'Tales from the
Margin', a touching documentary by Kavita Joshi on the issue, was also
screened. Cities like Bangalore, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata,
Guwahati, Chandigarh, Pune and Patna also joined in to express
solidarity with Sharmila.
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