LS appeals to Sharmila to end 6-yr hunger strike

New Delhi, Dec 12: The Lok Sabha today appealed to activist I. Sharmila to end her indefinite fast which is continuing for the past six years in demand for repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, in Manipur.

The issue was raised during zero hour by former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma (Nationalist Congress Party), who claimed that the condition of Ms Sharmila has been deteriorating at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

At this point, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said "I hope everyone will join me in urging her to end her fast." Earlier, Mr Sangma said she had been declining food for the past six years. However, she was being forcefed through the nose all these years. She is now refusing life support system and this led to her being in a critical condition.

In this context, he asked the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his recent visit to Manipur, had expressed the government's willingness to amend the controversial act, but the people of North Eastern states wanted its repeal.

He said the act did not help contain insurgency in Manipur, but instead it had created hardships for the people. "The people of Manipur and other North Eastern states hate this act which gives unlimited powers to armed forces," he said.

Mr Sangma said there was only one insurgent group in Manipur when the act came into being in 1958. Despite the act being in force, the number of such groups had gone up to four in 1980 and there are more than 25 insurgent groups now.

UNI