Irom Sharmila announces new 'Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance'

Imphal (Manipur) [India], Oct. 18 (ANI): Activist Irom Sharmila on Tuesday announced the formation of a new political front the 'Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance' in Imphal, and said that the last 16 years had not yielded results with regard to the withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sharmila also expressed her desire to contest the Manipur Assembly election next year. "I fasted for 16 years, but it did not yield any result. The government did not pay heed to my demands," Sharmila said. "I did not get support from the people. Since it (AFSPA) has become a political issue, I thought I need to take a political recourse," she added. Earlier in August, Irom Chanu Sharmila ended her 16-year-fast against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), expressed desire to serve the people of Manipur as the Chief Minister. Addressing the media here after breaking her hunger strike, Sharmila said that she has been called the 'Iron Lady' of Manipur and would want to live up to that image. Talking about threats from radical groups over her decision to join politics, she said, "I don't understand why some radical groups are against my joining politics." Sharmila was arrested and released several times under Section 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, she rejected the allegations that she ever tried to commit suicide, saying she was on a hunger strike demanding AFSPA withdrawal. On July 26, Sharmila had announced that she had planned to end her 16-year-fast and contest the assembly elections as an independent candidate. Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had reportedly offered her to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under its banner from the inner Manipur seat which she rejected. With the activist set to step foot in the realm of politics, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have thrown their doors open for her, saying she is welcome to join them. (ANI)