Irom Sharmila wants to meet and question Modi. Will the PM relent?

Imphal, April 1: It has been a while since the legendary Manipuri activist and poet Irom Chanu Sharmila has expressed her desire to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Once again recently when she was in Delhi, the peace activist, who has been campaigning against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, by undertaking "fast unto death" since November 4, 2000, told journalists she wanted to meet the PM.

A court in Delhi on Wednesday (March 30) acquitted Sharmila from charges of attempt to suicide.

Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh acquitted Sharmila in the case registered in 2006.

The court on March 4, 2013 framed charges against Sharmila for attempting to commit suicide in Delhi and put her on trial after she refused to plead guilty.

Sharmila denied attempting suicide while fasting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

According to reports, during her stay in Delhi, police personnel did not allow activists and journalists to meet Sharmila.

However, a couple of journalists managed to speak with the peace activist.

In an interview to The Wire, Sharmila said she wanted to meet Modi.

"I really want to meet with him, irrespective of his mood. I want to influence him with my presence. I want to ask what kind of government this is, based on violence? What is their focus? The happiness index is declining in the country," she said.

"Human beings are all equal in the eyes of God," she added. "The government needs to make an effort to connect with discontented voices. Who is a terrorist? How do they come into being? As a society, we need to address the root causes of these issues. Using violence only represents hollowness," she added.

Earlier while interacting with a handful of reporters in Imphal, Sharmila said, "I want to tell the prime minister that only talks could solve all the burning problems. Besides, I want to highlight the objectionable policies of the Indian government."

OneIndia News