Manipur Election 2017: Irom Sharmila to quit politics but continue fight against Afspa
Imphal: Handed a humiliating defeat on her maiden foray into electoral politics, Manipur's human rights activist Irom Sharmila on Saturday announced she would quit politics and blamed the people for letting her down.
Imphal: Handed a humiliating defeat on her maiden foray into electoral politics, Manipur's human rights activist Irom Sharmila on Saturday announced she would quit politics and blamed the people for letting her down.
File image of Irom Sharmila. Reuters
The Iron Lady, who had continued her fast-unto-death for 16 years till mid 2016 demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, secured a meagre 90 votes from the prestigious Thoubal constituency and lost her Rs 10,000 deposit against Chief Minister and Congress nominee Okram Ibobi Singh.
Hours after her defeat, an emotional Sharmila said she was fed up with politics and wanted to quit it, even though her fight against Afspa will continue.
Sharmila said she wanted her party and People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) to survive.
"But I am fed up with politics after this result: I continued without even water for 16 year yet... People need to be awakened. They let me down...The people let me down," she said in an emotionally choked voice.
"They (the people) want me to be their version of me but I want to be just a normal human being, who has right to reality, right to choice, freedom to be," she added.
Sharmila termed both Congress and BJP "equally dirty."
also read
Rahul Gandhi's Cambridge outburst and Nehru dynasty's pedigreed relationship with Britain
Rahul Gandhi genuinely aspires to become India’s Prime Minister no matter the method or the cost
Delhi: Six arrested for putting up objectionable posters against PM Modi
As per the allegations, some parts of Delhi also had posters with the caption "Modi Hatao Desh Bachao"
China's Xi Jinping spotlights national security in congress closing speech
Xi also thanked the thousands of delegates at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for giving him a third term, vowing to 'take the needs of the country as my mission, and the interests of the people as my yardstick'