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Sharmila ending fast to fight polls

In yet another landmark development in the Manipur’s poll political landscape, Irom Sharmila on Tuesday announced to end her fast to fight the upcoming assembly polls.

Talking to reporters at the Imphal Court premises, she said that she is waiting for August 9 to break her 15 year long fast.

She observed that during her 15 year long she got no response from the people in power and that there is hardly any hope a positive response in near future.

She said that she has no option but to politically fight the draconian Act that empowers the armed forces to unleash reign of terror on the common people.

The decision is bound to have a huge impact on the state’s political scenario in the north eastern state hardly a year ahead of the assembly polls.

She started the fast unto death in November 2000 in protest against the Malom incident near Imphal airport.

Since then she has been declining food and drink demanding the real of the Act. During this period she has been arrested and rearrested. A couple of years back, the government has been nose-feeding her and spnt over Rs 80,000 for her security, medication and nose feeding.

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Kamal Rajpal's picture

It is vital that she gets proper medical guidance on how to gradually come back to a normal diet, from experts who know the art and science of fasting. Breaking a 16 years fast may take at least 16 weeks or else it can be fatal. AYUSH or JNI Bangalore or similar organisations should be consulted.

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