Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had agreed that AFSPA is inhuman act. May be it was his inability to repeal the act as there were possibilities of affecting the Congress party performance in the election over his silence to Irom Sharmila’s protest. He might have strong and valid reason to remain silence. So as the Okram Ibobi led government in the state of Manipur have reason to dance in the tune of the central leadership. But now Congress is minority in the center. MPCC president Gaikhangam and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi should not let away the opportunity to win the heart of many Indians without hurting the sentiments of its party’s national leadership. The release of Sharmila by a court of the country should be effectively used as everyone understood that repeal of an act is the business of the Parliament and not the state legislative assembly.
It is right time that the government of Manipur question on why is the armed forces special powers act only in North eastern part of India and the state of Jammu and Kashmir?
Bad or good, if it is felt necessary to implement the act, which the people often criticized as “draconian”, it should be enforced in the whole of the nation. Why is the act required only in the North Eastern part of the country and in Jammu and Kashmir and not in any other part of the country? Is it because the people of this region are second class citizens?
If the intention for enforcement of the Act is for maintenance of the law and order situations, why is the act not enforce in states like, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh where the problems of naxalites and armed maoist insurgents are going out of control.
Irom Chanu Sharmila has been demanding the complete and total repeal of the draconian act by undergoing a fast unto death protest for more than 13 years. The lady, who began her protest at her late 20s is now 42 and she is still continuing her protest without politicizing the issue.
The Issue of Irom Chanu Sharmila has never been a matter of concern or consideration the parliamentarians and other think tank who had been elected on the faith that they will be representing the aspirations of the common people.
The government should now be very tactful in playing with the sentiments of the people. Detention – either it may to save her or to force her for stopping the protest is not going to help. Act press the central government, let the three MPs from the state show some performances. For, it will bring them fame and honour.
