BeyondHeadlines News Desk
New Delhi: Manipur-based social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been fasting against Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) for the last 10 years, will not be able to join Anna Hazare’s agitation here as she has been prevented by authorities from doing so, activists claimed today, news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. 
“Sharmila will not be able to join us here at Ramlila Maidan as she had desired. The authorities in her state did not allow her,” activist Medha Patkar announced to the protestors here.
Assam-based Right to Information (RTI) activist Akhil Gogoi also seconded what Patkar said.”Sharmila wanted to tell the country about her fight that she has been undertaking against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act by coming here. But she will not be able to do it now,” Gogoi told PTI.
Gogoi is also a member of team Anna and India Against Corruption (IAC) group. He said Sharmila was invited by them and she had expressed her solidarity to their movement against corruption and bringing a strong Lokpal Bill and she also wanted to come to Delhi to propagate her message.
Gogoi said he would now himself tell the people gathered here about Sharmila’s struggle and other such issues plaguing the northeast of the country. Sharmila has been fasting since the year 2000 demanding repeal of the AFSPA. She is confined to a hospital bed and is being fed through a nasal tube for a long time now.
But the invitation also shows the ignorance of the Team Anna about her judicial custody – and the cause.
