Day: May 23, 2013

The post Court sets Aug 30 to record evidence in Irom Sharmila case appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

NEW DELHI, May 22 (Agencies): A Delhi Court has fixed August 30 for recording of prosecution evidence in a case against rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanu for allegedly attempting suicide during her fast-unto-death in New Delhi in 2006. The Manipuri activist has been on a fast for over 12 years demanding repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur.

Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain, who had earlier scheduled the matter for Wednesday for recording testimony of prosecution evidence, fixed the matter for August 30 after 40-year-old Sharmila could not appear in the court. The court allowed the plea of Sharmila`s counsel who sought her exemption from personal appearance for Wednesday.

Earlier on March 4, the court had put the rights activist on trial after she had refused to plead guilty for the offence of attempting to commit suicide (Section 309 of IPC). If convicted, Sharmila, who is out on bail in this case, faces a maximum jail term of one year.

Popularly known as the “Iron Lady”, Sharmila had earlier said her`s was a non-violent protest. She has been on fast since 2000.

She had rejected the charge that she had attempted suicide in 2006 and had told the court, “I do not want to commit suicide. Mine is only a non-violent protest. It is my demand to live as a human being. I love life. I do not want to take my life but I want justice and peace.”

While framing charges, the court had said, “It is alleged against you (Sharmila) that you on October 4, 2006 at about 8 pm sat at Jantar Mantar on a fast unto death uptil 11.30 pm on October 6, 2006 and refused to get your medical check up and thereby, committed an act with an intention or knowledge that under such circumstances that death may be caused and thereby, committed an offence under Sec 309 of IPC.”

Earlier, Sharmila`s counsel had requested the magistrate that due to ill-health condition, the activist may not be asked to appear before the court again and again.

The magistrate, however, had said that if she would not be able to appear, an appropriate application for exemption should be moved on her behalf but the court cannot pass a blanket order. The counsel had said Sharmila had already undergone one- year in judicial custody which is the maximum sentence for the offence under Sec 309 of the IPC.

The activist, who stays in Manipur, had told the court earlier in March , “If AFSPA will be repealed by the government, then only I will take food and will take out the food pipe,” through which she is fed.

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The post Gaikhangnam eulogizes Congress, runs down BJP appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

IMPHAL, May 22: Addressing a one day block level political workers’ conference at Sekmai Community hall, Koujengleima today Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangnam said that Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee was founded under the theme “Integrity and Unity for faster development” and that other political parties will not be able to bring development and unity in Manipur and to maintain territorial integrity and peace. He continued that the citizens of Manipur elected the Congress party to power. “42 seats out of 60 is validation that despite threats, they felt safe and secure under the congress government of Manipur,” he said. He went on to say that government welcomed any criticism against it as such criticism alert the government to the needs of the people.

Terming the BJP as an irresponsible party, he said that they (BJP) had degraded themselves though the party was a very respectable party before.

He added that the BJP would not be able to attain their goal by taking to the streets through their various agitations and campaigns and expressed his desire about the BJP party holding the debate through the media or at various forums.

N Hemanta Singh, President, Sekmai Block Congress Committee (BCC) said that as the congress came to power, there was an improvement in the transportation sector in the Sekami constituency and added that various flagships programs taken up by the congress government has benefitted the general public of the Sekmai constituency.

Speaking at the conference, MLA, Biren  refuted the claims made by various political parties that the congress party got majority seats through the use of electronic voting machines.

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The post Need to inform people about Irom Sharmila: Sharmila Tagore appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

NEW DELHI, May 22 (Agencies): A panel of intellectuals including actors, filmmakers and journalists have appealed to the people to join activist Irom Chanu Sharmila in her demand for annulling the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Manipur.

“People know Irom Sharmila only as a lady with a tube in her nose. Even I for that matter got to know about her only five years ago. There is a need to raise awareness about her,” veteran Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore said while speaking at the launch of a book `Iron Irom Two Journeys – Where the Abnormal is Normal`, authored by documentary filmmaker Minnie Vaid on Tuesday.

“Her saga is extremely moving. She is the face of the process which is adopted by her. Her way of protest is important as it is non- violent. I am ashamed that I came to know about her five years ago. We need to inform the people about her struggle and the cause she is standing for,” said Sharmila Tagore.

The actress said she considered the activist as a “hugely spiritual and exceptional person.”

The panel discussion coincided with the completion of 55 years AFSPA, after it was imposed on May 22, 1958. Irom Sharmila, began a total hunger strike, without food or water since November 4, 2004 against the AFSPA and authorities have been force feeding her a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe.

Author and documentary filmmaker Minnie Vaid said she had written the book to generate awareness about the activist`s struggle.

“The media is least bothered in the struggle of Irom Sharmila and `Iron Irom` is a book which I have written for those people who don`t know Irom Sharmila,” Minnie Vaid said.

Vaid, who has worked extensively in the strife-torn state, asked why the government was silent over Sharmila`s peaceful protest. “Let`s talk more and more about Sharmila and write books on her. We have to support anti-AFSPA movement if we respect her and want her to lead a normal life,” Vaid said.

Pradip Phanjoubam, Group Editor of the Imphal Free Press was also present on the occasion. “AFSPA is the failure of liberal India. Its existence in the state is biggest failure for the country,” Phanjoubam said.

The post Need to inform people about Irom Sharmila: Sharmila Tagore appeared first on  KanglaOnline.com.

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