For 16 long years, Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’ survived on oral hydrating fluids, baby food supplements and perhaps the least glamorous “liquid diet”.
In the last two decades, she hasn’t eaten a bite of solid food, visited the cinema, or done anything that many leading a normal life take for granted. She had vowed to meet her mother only when AFSPA in Manipur had been repealed.
On 9 August 2016, Sharmila broke her fast – the world’s longest-running.
Sharmila, however, is wary of a biopic on her life. She calls it a “violation of her rights and an infringement of privacy”. She responded to buzz generated online about the possibility of a movie on her.
In an earlier interview with The Quint, Sharmila had shown an interest in joining politics, and mentioned Arvind Kejriwal offering to be her running mate.
Politics isn’t dirty, the people involved make it dirty. Arvind Kejriwal said that he will be my star campaigner if I become AAP’s CM candidate.Irom Sharmila to The Quint
In her message to the people of Manipur, she asked them to join her in her new strategy to repeal AFSPA.
Believe in me, in my conscience as a human being. Those who want an end to AFSPA, come out and join me in my new strategy.
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