<p>Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila now faces a new battle ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls—procuring official documents to prove that she is a bona fide citizen of India.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During her 16-year fast, Irom was under arrest and was force-fed through her nose at a special ward at a government hospital in Imphal. Due to this, she was cut off from the rest of the world and could not get any of the necessary paper work done. <br /><br />Irom does not have a passport, PAN card or Aadhaar card, nor does she have a bank account.<br /><br />“Getting these documents has become my biggest challenge. I need to have them because now I am getting invites from across the country. People want me to come and make the fight against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) a global campaign. For that, I will have to travel and meet people,” Sharmila told reporters in Imphal on Tuesday when she was brought to a local court for the regular trial.<br /><br />“I want to travel to Delhi where I have been invited for a national-level solidarity meet on my new strategy to fight AFSPA after I gave up my fast. I have also another invite from Punjab where youth from 30 countries are gathering,” Sharmila added.<br /><br />A very close aide, who did not want to be named, said: “She has been under arrest for 16 years and all her fundamental rights as a citizen of India were curbed. Now these documents will be needed since she wants to contest election. We fear the government might not cooperate with her in issuing these documents.” <br /><br />In the court, cross-examination of witnesses took place and as usual, Irom did not plead guilty.<br /><br />“She also requested the court to remove the security cover since she is out on bail. The court has notified September 5 as the final date of hearing after which the court might pronounce its judgement,” said Irom’s court-appointed legal counsel L Rebeda Devi. Irom had also requested the court to dispose off the case against her as she has ended the fast. <br /></p>
<p>Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila now faces a new battle ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls—procuring official documents to prove that she is a bona fide citizen of India.<br /><br /></p>.<p>During her 16-year fast, Irom was under arrest and was force-fed through her nose at a special ward at a government hospital in Imphal. Due to this, she was cut off from the rest of the world and could not get any of the necessary paper work done. <br /><br />Irom does not have a passport, PAN card or Aadhaar card, nor does she have a bank account.<br /><br />“Getting these documents has become my biggest challenge. I need to have them because now I am getting invites from across the country. People want me to come and make the fight against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) a global campaign. For that, I will have to travel and meet people,” Sharmila told reporters in Imphal on Tuesday when she was brought to a local court for the regular trial.<br /><br />“I want to travel to Delhi where I have been invited for a national-level solidarity meet on my new strategy to fight AFSPA after I gave up my fast. I have also another invite from Punjab where youth from 30 countries are gathering,” Sharmila added.<br /><br />A very close aide, who did not want to be named, said: “She has been under arrest for 16 years and all her fundamental rights as a citizen of India were curbed. Now these documents will be needed since she wants to contest election. We fear the government might not cooperate with her in issuing these documents.” <br /><br />In the court, cross-examination of witnesses took place and as usual, Irom did not plead guilty.<br /><br />“She also requested the court to remove the security cover since she is out on bail. The court has notified September 5 as the final date of hearing after which the court might pronounce its judgement,” said Irom’s court-appointed legal counsel L Rebeda Devi. Irom had also requested the court to dispose off the case against her as she has ended the fast. <br /></p>
