Irom Sharmila’s brother surprised by her decision to end fast

IMPHAL: Even as various civil bodies have endorsed Irom Sharmila Chanu's decision to end her fast and contest polls, the family of the 'Iron Lady of Manipur' has refused to comment on her stance.
Sharmila's elder brother Irom Singhajit, who even left his job in a prominent NGO to support her sister's campaign for the last 16 years, said he would comment only after studying the people's reactions.

On Tuesday, Sharmila stunned the people when she announced that she will contest the Manipur assembly polls next year as an Independent candidate and will get married. Demanding scrapping of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Sharmila began her fast on November 5, 2000, a couple of days after Assam Rifles personnel mowed down 10 civilians at Malom village in Imphal West in retaliatory action.

"A few minutes after she (Sharmila) announced her decision, I received phone calls from hordes of journalists and rights activists from across the country. But I told them that I would not comment on the matter," an emotional Singhajit said on Thursday.

Stating that he did not have any prior knowledge about her decision, Singhajit said he was quite surprised at the decision.
Singhajit even held the top post of Just Peace Foundation (JPF) – a trust formed by various rights bodies for the cause of Sharmila's lone campaign against AFSPA.

Singhajit earlier expressed unhappiness over Sharmila's affair with Desmond Coutinho, an India-born British citizen, charging him with trying to make a mockery of Sharmila's struggle. Sharmila's mother Sakhi Devi's only dream was to see her daughter come home with accomplishment. Showing solidarity with Sharmila's cause, the family members have been abstaining from 'Ningol Chakouba' – the greatest festival of Manipuri women – since she began her fast in 2000.

(Agencies)

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