IMPHAL, August 26: The Women Action for Development organised a mass rally against the ‘torture and inhuman treatment of Irom Chanu Sharmila’ from Basket Ground, Nahabam, Brahmapur Leikai.
The rally participated by womenfolk of the locality commenced at around noon and was followed by a public meeting at Wangkhei Multipurpose Community Hall, Wangkhei Keithel Asangbi, where the rally participants gathered after the rally.
The meeting was jointly organised by WAD, NEDF, WEJ, IRDA, NLF, CNPW, KCWWA, COWF, VWCOC, HAWA, SAVE, ABFC, DVSF, SSG, EEMA, CWD, UNM-M, CSD, KLYC, LWWK, PWWS, TNMP, KCLWDA, RLP, SADO, KKLMPPl and RUCHI.
At the opening of the public meeting, WAD secretary Sobita Mangsatabam in her keynote said that in the way back when Mahatma Gandhi fasted his demands were tabled and discussed in high level political tables.
She continued that it was undesirable that when Irom Sharmila fasted for the last 13 years demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, it has not been even considered.
President Kuki Womens Union, Manipur Rose Mangshi Haokip who was present in the public meeting as a dais member said the continuous drama of re-arresting Sharmila needs to be stopped now.
She said that Sharmila has the right to live like normal beings among us.
What Sharmila is doing is for the betterment of the public and not for herself, she said.
She called for a collective show of support to Sharmila’s movement irrespective of hills or valley.
President All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and advocate High Court, Manipur Khaidem Mani condemned the excessive action of the State security forces against Irom Sharmila during her recent re-arrest from her temporary agitation site.
He said Sharmila is someone who has kept her words of pure fasting by not even using water to wash her mouth.
The public meeting was also attended by former Principal of Manipur College and general secretary of Senior Citizen Society Manipur Prof L Sadananda, President Rongmei Women Union Panti Golmei and JCILPS women wing convenor L Nganbi.
