IMPHAL, Aug 18: Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for the past more than 14 years demanding repeal of the AFSPA , was produced before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West RK Memcha today morning at around 11.
Before entering the court room Sharmila had a brief chat with the reporters.
Speaking to the reporters, she expressed her concerns on the present scenario of Manipur.
She expressed her disappointment over the State government for taking too much time in fulfilling the people`™s wish of the ILP or a similar law being implemented in the State.
She also expressed her concern on the reports of some ILP protesters under the influence of intoxicants causing harm to people, public properties and vehicles.
She said this kind of things can show the movement in a bad light.
When asked what she thinks about the students who are on hunger strike demanding ILP in Manipur, she replied `I would not suggest anyone to carry out this form of protest (hunger strike) because I don`™t want anyone to suffer the way I am suffering now.`
`In one`™s life the stage of a student is very important.
`In fact students are our pillars of tomorrow. We should free the students from the problems and issues faced by the State from time to time. Let them study peacefully,` she continued.
`I think it is possible to achieve the goal of the masses successfully without much destruction and also within a limited time frame if the civil societies, political parties and other organizations work together with trust, unity and sincerely,` she said.
She further said that her movement has crossed 14 years now. `They (government) have, under charges of attempt to commit suicide, awarded me with one year penalty every year and then I am released for few days before I am again re-arrest,` she said.
While urging the people to support her movement she questioned whether it is `dharma` to treat a person, who is only fighting against a brutal law for the sake of truth in a non violence form, like this in a democratic country.