Let’s make a difference, Irom Sharmila tells students

“Iron Lady” Irom Sharmila on Friday urged students of Delhi University to stand up against the wrong that was happening around and realise their responsibilities.

Ms Sharmila, who ended her 16-year long fast against the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur to participate the upcoming Assembly elections, said the “democratically-elected” leaders of the north-eastern states are governing the region like “blind puppets” of the Union government.

“Youths should not remain contended being embodiment of protests,” she told students at the DU’s department of social work during an event organised by the Northeast Forum for International Solidarity on the occasion of 120th birth anniversary of Hijam Irabot, a founder leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Manipur. Participants at the event described Irabot as a “cultural icon” who led an anti-colonial struggle in the state.

Stressing on the need to follow one’s conscience, Ms Sharmila said she joined the mainstream politics to oppose “unreasonable wrong happening” around her. “Our democratic leaders are governing blindly as the puppets of the Union government. The policymakers do not connect with the real suffering of the people,” she said.

“When laws that are meant to serve us, turn against us, exploit our rights, murder us and rape us how can we remain contented with so much inhumanity ” she added.

Urging students to “join hands to make the real democracy of India”, the civil rights activist-turned-politician said: “Let’s make a difference, defy wrong trends which are so powerful, so overpowering.”

Sharing her thoughts on Irabot’s social activism, she said: “The then Congress leaders and the government accused him of instigating people... of being a Maoist. In the same way, right now, when people want to see me as a leader, (some) try to instigate those who are supporting me.”

Ms Sharmila of late has been mobilising support for her debut in the next year’s Manipur polls. Earlier this week, she met the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to seek his advice on fighting the elections.