On the day of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign start it Nationwide Signature Campaign, which was organized here at Jantar Mantar in Delhi including 21 sates of India where the same was organized at various places.
It is first time when any campaign organized such a program which was simultaneously followed in so many Indian states. Organizers of the campaign say that campaign has also organized various other programs in past with its objective to spread awareness about Irom and then to get support of public for the demands of campaign.
Faisal Khan, the key organizer of the campaign who already went to Manipur in 2006 and observed the fast in solidarity with Irom told that civil societies, media and government no one has done much for Irom. She is still ignored. We are a solidarity group of various organizations and movements who demand with government to take necessary steps. Now, we received support of various leading social activists. Mr. Khan told that signature campaign will continue till 8 december and all the signatures will be handed over to President of India on 10th DEC (International Human Rights Day) through a solidarity march from India gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan. A day long fast will be observed on 10 December before start of solidarity march by leading women activists of India.
Large number of youths have participated and volunteered in campaign. Devika, a member of core committee of campaign told that more than 5000 people have already supported the cause on our facebook group. Large number of people have extended their support on twitter too. We have also get support of students from various institutes in India. We have student coordinators in almost all Delhi University colleges, Jamia Millia Central University, JNU, Jamia Hamdard, Manav Rachna & Amity. We are organizing various other programs such as talk and documentary screening in these institutes to spread awareness among students.
Ravi Nitesh, one of the campaign volunteer says that though volunteers of this campaign are working to extend support to Irom Sharmila since long time but this is a historical event when we organized the Nation wide campaign. Today thousands of people supported the cause at various places. Main places where we received much response are marina beach at Chennai, Kargil Chowk at Patna, Albert Ekka Chowk at Ranchi, Shyam bazaar Metro at Kolkata, TT nagar at Bhopal etc.
Other members of save sharmila solidarity campaign who were there includes Gufran Khan, Ravi Nitesh, Sandeep Mishra, Qamar Intekhab, Inamul hasan, Veena behan, Prof V. K. Tripathi and others.
Save Sharmila Solidarity campaign demands with government to start positive steps of talk with Irom Sharmila, to send all party delegation at Manipur and to send members of NWC/NHRC at Manipur.
Various organizations are supporting the campaign. Mainly NAPM, Asha Parivar, Mission Bhartiyam, Mahila Chetna Kendra, Yuva Koshish, Khudai Khidmatgar, Manushi, Sadbhavna Mission, We the Common People, SAMAR, La Mashale, SIO, Asian Centre of Social Studies started the campaign however and the number of support organizations increasing rapidly.
[box color=”blue”] This press release was sent to Kanglaonline by Volunteers of ”SAVE SHARMILA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN” [/box]
