IMPHAL, Aug 12 : Three days after Irom Chanu Sharmila ended her epic hunger strike, Organisation for Indian Women Against Crime (OIWAC) founder and secretary Arambam Robita has announced that she will begin an indefinite hunger strike in pursuance of the demand for repeal of AFSPA and implementation of ILPS in the State from tomorrow.
The 32-year-old mother of two made her announcement while speaking to reporters at Manipur Press Club today.
On the other hand, civil society and student organisations like ACOAM Lup, UCM, AMSU, IPSA, Salai Apunba Nupi Lup and SANULAL etc, which were consulted by Robita refused to endorse her decision.
However, Robita stuck to her stand and declared that she would commence her stir from Patriot’s Day (August 13) at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall.
Robita said, “After Eche Sharmila broke her fast, people of Manipur want somebody to come forward to carry on the stir. So, I have decided to continue the movement showing respect to the people’s wish and adopting Eche Sharmila’s ideology. The credit will go to Eche Sharmila if I succeed and I will return only as a dead body if I fail.”
She said that Sharmila has decided to change her strategy as she was dissatisfied with the Government.
OIWAC advisor S Sobita said that they can never permit Robita to stage the stir.
Sobita opined that she needs to review her decision as she is a married woman having children and family. She can stage other forms of agitation if she wants to join the anti-AFSPA campaign. Salai Apunba Nupi Lup member M Thoi said that they would never endorse Robita’s decision.
A resident of Kongba Nongthombam Leikai in Imphal East district, Robita is the founder and secretary of Organisation for Indian Women Against Crime. She is also the Editor of the monthly journal ‘Women and Crimes’ and founder of Robita Short Stay Home.
Meanwhile, Salai Apunba Nupi Lamjing Lup volunteers have detained Robita at their head office so that she drops her decision of staging an indefinite hunger strike.
In a statement, the Lup said that it is undesirable to resort to such a stir by a mother who has young children to look after.
