Irom Sharmila ends fast: 5 reasons why radicals are opposing her decision

The Alliance for Socialist Unity, Kangleipak (ASUK), was one of the first Manipur-based organisations to raise objections against Sharmila contesting polls. It issued veiled threats against activists joining politics to contest elections.

In a statement, jointly signed by chairman N Oken and vice-chairman Ksh Laba Meitei, ASUK claimed that former activists who joined mainstream politics were assassinated after they turned their backs on the revolutionary movement.

The statement read: "All those who joined electoral politics did so knowing well that it was a dead-end."

ASUK even appealed to Sharmila to not degrade her status by choosing politics over the revolutionary struggle. Her decision has unnerved many in Manipur, who see her as a symbol of resistance.

When 44-year-old Sharmila announced her decision, even the activists closely associated with her were shocked to hear about what they called a 'unilateral decision'. According to them, she should have consulted them before making the announcement.

"We have been associated with her for so long and she didn't even feel the need to confide in us. We were shocked and surprised at her decision," said a person closely associated with her.

They smell a conspiracy, and believe that the decision wasn't hers alone. They claim she has been influenced by outsiders, who wanted her to give up the cause of an AFSPA-free Manipur.

However, others claim that these activists have vested interests, and had only been relevant because of Sharmila's 16-year-long struggle. With Sharmila deciding to give up her fast, they are unnerved by the prospect of becoming irrelevant.

Sharmila has also expressed her desire to marry Coutinho, who Manipuris see as an outsider and possibly the reason behind her decision. "Even though the man is an NRI, he is still an Indian in the eyes of the people of Kangleipak (core of Manipur)," read the ASUK statement.

The groups which have issued threats to Sharmila do not rule out the possibility of Desmond Coutinho being an Indian agent working towards weakening the ongoing mass movements, especially the Inner Line Permit issue. Even Sharmila had raised her objections on fielding college students for the permit issue.

Radicals believe the increasing number of interracial marriages have weakened the ongoing movement for the protection of the rights of the indigenous communities. They believe Sharmila will set a precedent that would be hard to reverse.

Her marriage would also mean the loss of a star who single-handedly managed to get everyone's attention on to the AFSPA issue.

The radicals also believe her withdrawal could weaken the movement and lead to a loss of attention from international agencies.

ASUK said: "When there is no people's movement against AFSPA in Manipur .... neither the UN nor any other country would do anything for our people."

These groups believe Sharmila's long-drawn struggle will eventually get the attention of the international agencies, which might force the Indian state to withdraw AFSPA.

While the radicals might be unnerved by Sharmila ending her fast, activists who have worked with her for long claim it is her decision which should be respected.

"It was she who sat on the fast, and now she realises it is going nowhere. Why should these groups threaten her? Their representatives should now continue with the fast. Why is it only Sharmila's responsibility to fight for the removal of AFSPA. After all, neither the Centre nor the state government has paid any heed to her long struggle," says activist Harsh Dobhal.