Manipur’s Iron Lady extends support to Anna

Social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast demanding repealing of the much-derided Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur for the last ten years, has extended her support to Anna Hazare’s anti-graft movement. Rajat Arora reports.

Social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast demanding repealing of the much-derided Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur for the last ten years, has extended her support to Anna Hazare’s anti-graft movement.

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Replying to Anna's letter — which he had written last Saturday asking Sharmila to join him in Delhi — the Iron Lady of Manipur, as she is also known, wrote that she would not be able to attend Anna's fast since she was in judicial custody.

She sent a messenger to Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday to convey her support to Team Anna and the lakhs of supporters across the nation.

“She wanted to join this amazing movement in Delhi but she is in judicial custody in Manipur. She fully supports Hazare’s crusade against corruption, which has eaten deep into our system. Manipur is one of the most corrupt states in the country,” said Rojesh Seram, a close associate of Sharmila.

Sharmila is being kept at a security ward of a hospital in Imphal where she is being force-fed through her nose.

“She tried to take our fight to New Delhi by staging protests at Jantar Mantar but did not get support from the nation as AFSPA only affects the North-east and Jammu & Kashmir,” added Seram.