Imphal The Save Sharmila Campaign Committee organised a day-long event in New Delhi on Saturday to coincide with the 63rd International Human Rights Day celebrated globally on December10.
The press note from Just Peace Foundation said the event which was supposed to be a day of fast was denied permission, however not to be deterred the activists gathered for a day of fast beginning with a prayer meeting of more than two hundred people.
“The spirit of Gandhi is being kept alive by Irom Chanu Sharmila” affirmed eminent activist Ms. Medha Padkar at the Save Sharmila Campaign.
She added that it was indeed a national embarrassment that the holding of one-day fast in solidarity with Irom Sharmila’s twelfth years’ of fast was being denied permission at the capital.
Swami Agnivesh said, “It is not for herself that Sharmila is fasting, neither is it for Manipur or India alone but for the cause of entire humanity. We should understand and rally behind her cause”.
“It is a matter of shame, a matter of embarrassment that we were denied permission to hold a fast on this very day declared as the International Human Rights Day,”ssaid Ms Aruna Roy, a right activist.
Anandi Khangembam, Managing Trustee of Just Peace Foundation, Manipur expressed that “One should not look at Irom Sharmila alone to resist the repressive laws which oppresses women; women all over India and the world should begin to voice their protest against all repressive laws”. (NNN)