Irom Sharmila

Rights activist Irom Sharmila on Friday claimed that the imposition of the President's rule in Manipur is "not a solution" but merely a way to "evade democratic accountability" for the ongoing ethnic violence in the state. In a telephonic interview with PTI, Sharmila emphasised the need for "honest political will" to restore peace in the strife-torn northeastern state and fresh elections "will not bring real change". Instead, Sharmila suggested that the titular king of Manipur be invited to serve as a symbol of unity with powers akin to those of the current governor". "The Presidential rule is not the solution. Manipuris have never wanted this. But since it is now the reality, let the Centre prioritise the restoration of the status quo ante for the internally displaced. Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi bring investments from industrialists' friends to provide at least basic infrastructure and development. The Presidential rule, when imposed in the past, was merely another way to avo

A day after AFSPA was extended in most parts of Manipur, rights activist Irom Sharmila said the "oppressive law" was not a solution to the conflict in the state. Sharmila, hailed as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', told PTI in a telephonic interview on Thursday that the BJP-led government at the Centre should respect diversity instead of working for uniformity through proposals like the Uniform Civil Code. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA was extended by another six months in Manipur on Wednesday, barring 19 police station areas in the Imphal valley and an area that shares its boundary with neighbouring Assam. "The extension of AFSPA is not a solution to the problems or ethnic violence in the state. The Centre and the Manipur government have to respect the diversity of the region," she said. "The values, principles, and practices of different ethnic groups must be respected. India is known for its diversity. But the central government and the BJP are more interested in ...

Civil rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu on Monday appealed to youth in the country to help bring normalcy in Manipur and attacked the BJP government, alleging it was deliberately ignoring the ongoing violence in the northeastern state. "Please help in bringing normalcy in Manipur," Chanu said after inaugurating a night-long protest at Muvattupuzha near here to express solidarity with the two women who were raped and paraded naked recently in northeastern state amidst the ongoing unrest. She alleged that the state government has completely failed to control the law and order situation there. Chanu accused the present BJP government of ignoring the problems there by treating them as third class citizens and not intervening with the right approach. "I am expecting intervention from throughout the country. Educated people from Kerala, mainly youth. Youth can change society. They are the reflection of society. You can make a change. Please help in bringing normalcy in Manipur," she ..

The Supreme Court judgment on Shaheen Bagh reflects how rules can be selectively used to make or break a protest

She would spend around one month in Attappadi, one of the largest tribal settlements of Kerala

Then you really did not care about elections in Manipur

In October last, the 44-year-old activist Irom Sharmila had formed her own party

She said she will contest against Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi from Thoubal constituency in the 2017 assembly elections

Sharmila was on a hunger strike for 16 years, demanding repeal of AFSPA from Manipur and was force-fed during this period.

The 'Iron Lady' is due to appear before the court on September 5

Sharmila ended 16 years of fast on August 9, inviting criticism from many of her supporters

Assembly polls in Manipur are due in 2017

Irom Sharmila did not only break her 16-year-old hunger strike and promise to join electoral elections. She upset the equilibrium that had come to envelop the weary Manipur state over years. It has momentarily broken and that has upset some in her Meitei community. Not everyone.

A team of doctors from different specialities like gastroenteritis and gynaecology are monitoring her health

Having ended her fast, the human rights icon insists that her fight against Afspa remains undiminished

Janata Dal-United termed her struggle as part of Mahatma Gandhi's principle, adding she is a strong person

She learnt yoga in 1998, two years after she sat on hunger strike; said by doing yoga, one can live upto one 100 years

Sharmila has broken her hunger strike but she will not clip her nails, comb her hair and meet her mother till AFSPA is repealed

'Iron Lady' Sharmila ended her 16-year-fast on Tuesday and expressed desire to serve the people of Manipur as the CM

The activist wants become Manipur CM after 20 years of civil disobedience against AFSPA. Will it mean a new political movement towards her cause to end AFSPA?