Iconic human rights activist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/who-is-irom-4556">Irom Chanu Sharmila </a>married her long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Kodaikanal today.&nbsp;

44-year old Sharmila rose to fame after she went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the state of Manipur. The hunger strike lasted 16 years.

Also called the &ldquo;Iron Lady&rdquo;, she broke her fast on August 9, 2016 and declared she would form her political party and stand in the Manipur state assembly elections so that she could repeal AFSPA. &nbsp;

Sharmila moved to Kodaikanal with British citizen Coutinho after her party, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-irom-sharmilas-prja-party-takes-crowdfunding-route-to-raise-funds-for-manipur-elections-11350">Peoples&rsquo; Resurgence and Justice Alliance </a>(PRJA), suffered defeat in the elections.

The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar.&nbsp;

The wedding was objected to by local activist, V Mahendran, who contended that if the couple stayed in the hills, tribals in the area would face law and order problems.

The sub-registrar had rejected Mahendran&rsquo;s objection.&nbsp;

The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar

Iconic human rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila married her long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Tamil Nadu’s Kodaikanal today. 44-year old Sharmila rose to fame after she went on a hunger strike on November 4, 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the state of Manipur. The hunger strike lasted 16 years. Also called the “Iron Lady”, she broke her fast on August 9, 2016 and declared she would form her political party and stand in the Manipur state assembly elections so that she could repeal AFSPA. Sharmila moved to Kodaikanal with British citizen Coutinho after her party, Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA), suffered defeat in the elections. The wedding, a simple affair, was registered under the Special Marriage Act and was held in the presence of a sub-registrar. The wedding was objected to by local activist, V Mahendran, who contended that if the couple stayed in the hills, tribals in the area would face law and order problems. The sub-registrar had rejected Mahendran’s objection.

Irom Sharmila marries long-time partner Desmond Coutinho in Kodaikanal

Congress edged out BJP in the state as the poll battle ended in a virtual shoot-out as leads kept changing throughout the day. Congress beat BJP by winning 28 seats to 21, though the former has fallen agonisingly short of the half-way mark to form the government.

The Congress have bucked predictions made by several exit polls to beat the BJP. &nbsp;

In the high-profile contest in Thoubal, &#39;Iron Lady&#39; of Manipur Irom Sharmila lost to the incumbent chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

Sharmila managed to garner only 90 votes, according to the Election Commission of India.

Reacting to the heavy loss, Sharmila said she would not contest the next state elections and would concentrate on fighting the menace of the army in her state. &nbsp;

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I want to quit fighting any type of election: Irom Sharmila after losing election <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionResults?src=hash">#ElectionResults</a> <a href="https://t.co/ednIn2MCow">pic.twitter.com/ednIn2MCow</a>
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Sharmila, a renowned civil rights activist who went on a hunger strike for 16 years to protest army&#39;s unchecked power in the state, had floated a party of her own -- Peoples&#39; Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRAJA) -- to contest this state election.

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Manipur: Supporters of CM Okram Ibobi Singh, who has won from Thoubal seat, celebrate <a href="https://t.co/Vhf6gemFPh">pic.twitter.com/Vhf6gemFPh</a>
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But the end result shows she failed to make a dent in these elections.&nbsp;

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Early trends show Irom Sharmila trailing on the Imphal seat, Manipur (WION)
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Congress candidates who won included Md Abdul Naser and K Jaikishen Singh.&nbsp;N Biren Singh, a key BJP leader, emerged victorious from Heingang Assembly seat. BJP nominees who won included Sapam R Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh.&nbsp;Y Jaikumar Singh and Langpoklakpam J Singh of Nationalist People&#39;s Party (NPP) emerged victorious from Uripok and Keishamthong seat, respectively.

The Naga People&#39;s Front won from Mao (ST), Tamei (ST) and Phungyar (ST) seats.&nbsp;Lokjanshakti party won Langthabal seat.&nbsp;

Elections in the state were held in two phases -- the first phase was held on March 4 and the second on March 8.&nbsp;The elections were held for 60 seats.&nbsp;

(WION)

Irom Sharmila managed to garner only 90 votes in her fight against chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal seat

Congress edged out BJP in the state as the poll battle ended in a virtual shoot-out as leads kept changing throughout the day. Congress beat BJP by winning 28 seats to 21, though the former has fallen agonisingly short of the half-way mark to form the government. The Congress have bucked predictions made by several exit polls to beat the BJP. In the high-profile contest in Thoubal, 'Iron Lady' of Manipur Irom Sharmila lost to the incumbent chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Sharmila managed to garner only 90 votes, according to the Election Commission of India. Reacting to the heavy loss, Sharmila said she would not contest the next state elections and would concentrate on fighting the menace of the army in her state. I want to quit fighting any type of election: Irom Sharmila after losing election #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/ednIn2MCow — ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2017 × Sharmila, a renowned civil rights activist who went on a hunger strike for 16 years to protest army's unchecked power in the state, had floated a party of her own -- Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRAJA) -- to contest this state election. Manipur: Supporters of CM Okram Ibobi Singh, who has won from Thoubal seat, celebrate pic.twitter.com/Vhf6gemFPh — ANI (@ANI_news) March 11, 2017 × But the end result shows she failed to make a dent in these elections. Early trends show Irom Sharmila trailing on the Imphal seat, Manipur (WION) × Congress candidates who won included Md Abdul Naser and K Jaikishen Singh. N Biren Singh, a key BJP leader, emerged victorious from Heingang Assembly seat. BJP nominees who won included Sapam R Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh. Y Jaikumar Singh and Langpoklakpam J Singh of Nationalist People's Party (NPP) emerged victorious from Uripok and Keishamthong seat, respectively. The Naga People's Front won from Mao (ST), Tamei (ST) and Phungyar (ST) seats. Lokjanshakti party won Langthabal seat. Elections in the state were held in two phases -- the first phase was held on March 4 and the second on March 8. The elections were held for 60 seats. (WION)

Manipur Assembly Elections: BJP fails to dislodge Congress, Irom Sharmila loses

&nbsp;

By Enakshi Sharma

&quot;You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.&quot; - The Dark Knight

Well, that is too strong a statement for someone like Irom Sharmila. She can surely never be a villain considering what she has done already. However, looking at the response to her ongoing election campaign or the lack of it, one can&rsquo;t help but remember this quote from &quot;The Dark Knight&quot;. But what can be the reason for this apparent apathy of the people? What does it tell us about gender equations in our societies?

Let us first go back in time to the point where it all started, just so that we can have an idea about Sharmila&rsquo;s evolution. It all started in the year 2000 when some of the current social media sensations were mere toddlers. Ten civilians lost their lives during indiscriminate firing by Assam Rifles on 2nd December that year and in protest, Sharmila started her epic fast that lasted till 9th August 2016. She did not touch food during these 500 weeks and was repeatedly arrested and released during this period. Authorities used nasogastric intubation occasionally just to keep her alive. Practically, she almost killed herself to make a point on&nbsp;behalf of her people. Her struggle brought international recognition to the extra-judicial killings in Manipur by the state machinery. What more could a state&nbsp;have asked for from&nbsp;its brave daughter?

Cut to March 2017, she is now busy campaigning for the election. She has no funds for campaigning but she has picked hardest of the battles, that against the CM Ibobi Singh, representing the newly formed party called Peoples&rsquo; Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA). However, there is a marked difference between the public receptions of Sharmila, the politician compared to Sharmila, the anti-AFSPA activist.

As per most of the reports coming out of poll-bound Manipur, the primary battle is between the ruling Congress and the resurgent BJP. PRJA is not being taken too seriously by most of the voters. Ibobi Singh is nearly invincible on his home turf and Sharmila&rsquo;s battle seems to have nothing more than symbolic significance as of now. Even those who might have idolized her when she was starving herself to near-death, are not likely to join her in this new journey. So, she is just cycling alone all over the constituency, trying to talk to the people and working towards convincing them to vote for her. Even the most optimistic of the estimates are not even remotely in her favour.

So, what exactly has changed? To begin with, she is no longer starving or suffering for the people. She has entered the power game that has many benefits in case she wins. This naturally changes people&rsquo;s perception towards a person even if the person does not change herself. But is that a reason enough to explain people&rsquo;s lack of interest in her new party?

Before answering this question, another important development must be taken into account. She has recently announced her marriage to a person who is not from Manipur. In fact, he is not even Indian but&nbsp;a Goa-born British citizen. In the conservative confines of Manipur, this news has come as a big shock, so much so that people are seeing his hand behind her new avatar. It is noteworthy that originally she vowed not to end the fast till AFSPA was repealed. AFSPA is still there and she now plans to fight the cause politically. However, many have not been able to accept this sudden change of heart because even in 2014 she was invited to contest elections by various parties but she declined.

While certain questions are understandable, it is hard to imagine a male candidate facing similar apprehensions. Manipur women have excelled in many fields from sports to culture but rarely are they seen in politics. Is it is a sign of a deeply patriarchal society? Does it find too hard to accept the fact that Sharmila now plans to live her own life and also intends to be a part of the establishment? What if she had just starved herself to death? Would it have been more preferable to them as women are meant to suffer anyway?

None of these questions are likely to return satisfactory answers as of now!

(WION)

She has no funds for campaigning the Manipur assembly polls but she has picked hardest of battles against CM Ibobi Singh

By Enakshi Sharma "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - The Dark Knight Well, that is too strong a statement for someone like Irom Sharmila. She can surely never be a villain considering what she has done already. However, looking at the response to her ongoing election campaign or the lack of it, one can’t help but remember this quote from "The Dark Knight". But what can be the reason for this apparent apathy of the people? What does it tell us about gender equations in our societies? Let us first go back in time to the point where it all started, just so that we can have an idea about Sharmila’s evolution. It all started in the year 2000 when some of the current social media sensations were mere toddlers. Ten civilians lost their lives during indiscriminate firing by Assam Rifles on 2nd December that year and in protest, Sharmila started her epic fast that lasted till 9th August 2016. She did not touch food during these 500 weeks and was repeatedly arrested and released during this period. Authorities used nasogastric intubation occasionally just to keep her alive. Practically, she almost killed herself to make a point on behalf of her people. Her struggle brought international recognition to the extra-judicial killings in Manipur by the state machinery. What more could a state have asked for from its brave daughter? Cut to March 2017, she is now busy campaigning for the election. She has no funds for campaigning but she has picked hardest of the battles, that against the CM Ibobi Singh, representing the newly formed party called Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA). However, there is a marked difference between the public receptions of Sharmila, the politician compared to Sharmila, the anti-AFSPA activist. As per most of the reports coming out of poll-bound Manipur, the primary battle is between the ruling Congress and the resurgent BJP. PRJA is not being taken too seriously by most of the voters. Ibobi Singh is nearly invincible on his home turf and Sharmila’s battle seems to have nothing more than symbolic significance as of now. Even those who might have idolized her when she was starving herself to near-death, are not likely to join her in this new journey. So, she is just cycling alone all over the constituency, trying to talk to the people and working towards convincing them to vote for her. Even the most optimistic of the estimates are not even remotely in her favour. So, what exactly has changed? To begin with, she is no longer starving or suffering for the people. She has entered the power game that has many benefits in case she wins. This naturally changes people’s perception towards a person even if the person does not change herself. But is that a reason enough to explain people’s lack of interest in her new party? Before answering this question, another important development must be taken into account. She has recently announced her marriage to a person who is not from Manipur. In fact, he is not even Indian but a Goa-born British citizen. In the conservative confines of Manipur, this news has come as a big shock, so much so that people are seeing his hand behind her new avatar. It is noteworthy that originally she vowed not to end the fast till AFSPA was repealed. AFSPA is still there and she now plans to fight the cause politically. However, many have not been able to accept this sudden change of heart because even in 2014 she was invited to contest elections by various parties but she declined. While certain questions are understandable, it is hard to imagine a male candidate facing similar apprehensions. Manipur women have excelled in many fields from sports to culture but rarely are they seen in politics. Is it is a sign of a deeply patriarchal society? Does it find too hard to accept the fact that Sharmila now plans to live her own life and also intends to be a part of the establishment? What if she had just starved herself to death? Would it have been more preferable to them as women are meant to suffer anyway? None of these questions are likely to return satisfactory answers as of now! (WION)

Why Manipur's electorate has lost interest in Irom Sharmila

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not the medicine for militancy and it is there to &quot;extract resources&quot; from Manipur, Irom Sharmila&#39;s party PRJA has said.

To drive home the point, the Peoples&#39; Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) said that there were only four insurgent groups when the draconian AFSPA was introduced in Manipur in the 1980s and the number has gone up to 32 since.

The PRJA, which was formed by Sharmila after she ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the AFSPA in August last year, is making its electoral debut in this Assembly polls, fielding candidates in three of the state&#39;s 60 seats.

&quot;The AFSPA is not about militancy and counter-insurgency. It is something beyond that. To deal with militancy and counter-insurgency, you may need laws and programmes but the AFSPA is not one of them. In the 1980s when the AFSPA was introduced in Manipur, there were only four insurgent groups and in 2016 there were more than 32 groups reported... The AFSPA is not the medicine for militancy. It has clearly multiplied the disease. The AFSPA is there to extract resources from Manipur,&quot; PRJA convener Erendro Leichombam said in an email interview to PTI.

He said that his party would work towards the removal of the Act, which gives sweeping powers and immunity to the army in conflict-ridden areas, from Manipur first and &quot;then move Parliament to repeal it from all places across India&quot;.

Asked whether the electoral fight this time was &quot;symbolic&quot;, the 33-year-old leader said, &quot;Absolutely not. I think one PRJA MLA is worth 60 other MLAs. We are going to create so much ruckus inside the Assembly and expose the lies that people are going to ask for more.&quot;

Asked whether the party would support either the Congress or&nbsp;the BJP in case of a hung verdict, Leichombam just said, &quot;We are not going to ally with the Congress.&quot;

On the possibility of a future alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal&#39;s appreciation of Sharmila, he said, &quot;We are a very new party, we are barely five months old. We want to make sure we establish our own identity and foundation and once we are assured of the party strength, only after that we will be looking at an alliance.&quot;

Besides removal of the AFSPA, the nascent party is fighting the election on the planks of ending corruption, reducing unemployment, implementing Lokayukta, and ensuring a harmonious and inclusive Manipur.

Manipur is going to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8 and the counting will be held on March 11. The Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress dispensation has been in power in Manipur since 2002.

Asked about the party&#39;s take on the economic blockade by the United Naga Council and its impact to the economy of the state, he said, &quot;Every day, people are struggling because of the economic blockade. The Congress and the BJP are in power in the state and at the Centre, respectively. It is their job to resolve this at the earliest but they are just taking political mileage out of this.&quot;

(PTI)

PRJA is making its electoral debut in Manipur assembly elections, fielding candidates in three of the state's 60 seats

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not the medicine for militancy and it is there to "extract resources" from Manipur, Irom Sharmila's party PRJA has said. To drive home the point, the Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) said that there were only four insurgent groups when the draconian AFSPA was introduced in Manipur in the 1980s and the number has gone up to 32 since. The PRJA, which was formed by Sharmila after she ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the AFSPA in August last year, is making its electoral debut in this Assembly polls, fielding candidates in three of the state's 60 seats. "The AFSPA is not about militancy and counter-insurgency. It is something beyond that. To deal with militancy and counter-insurgency, you may need laws and programmes but the AFSPA is not one of them. In the 1980s when the AFSPA was introduced in Manipur, there were only four insurgent groups and in 2016 there were more than 32 groups reported... The AFSPA is not the medicine for militancy. It has clearly multiplied the disease. The AFSPA is there to extract resources from Manipur," PRJA convener Erendro Leichombam said in an email interview to PTI. He said that his party would work towards the removal of the Act, which gives sweeping powers and immunity to the army in conflict-ridden areas, from Manipur first and "then move Parliament to repeal it from all places across India". Asked whether the electoral fight this time was "symbolic", the 33-year-old leader said, "Absolutely not. I think one PRJA MLA is worth 60 other MLAs. We are going to create so much ruckus inside the Assembly and expose the lies that people are going to ask for more." Asked whether the party would support either the Congress or the BJP in case of a hung verdict, Leichombam just said, "We are not going to ally with the Congress." On the possibility of a future alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's appreciation of Sharmila, he said, "We are a very new party, we are barely five months old. We want to make sure we establish our own identity and foundation and once we are assured of the party strength, only after that we will be looking at an alliance." Besides removal of the AFSPA, the nascent party is fighting the election on the planks of ending corruption, reducing unemployment, implementing Lokayukta, and ensuring a harmonious and inclusive Manipur. Manipur is going to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8 and the counting will be held on March 11. The Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress dispensation has been in power in Manipur since 2002. Asked about the party's take on the economic blockade by the United Naga Council and its impact to the economy of the state, he said, "Every day, people are struggling because of the economic blockade. The Congress and the BJP are in power in the state and at the Centre, respectively. It is their job to resolve this at the earliest but they are just taking political mileage out of this." (PTI)

'AFSPA is not a medicine for militancy': Irom Sharmila's PRJA party

A day after Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal donated Rs 50,000 to Irom Sharmila&#39;s new party, another legislator from his party, Bhagwant Mann, has said he will donate a month of his salary to the human rights activist. 
 
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As a member of parliament m donating my one month salary to Irom Sharmila who is fighting against corrupt system n injustice in Manipur...
&mdash; Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/BhagwantMann/status/833165669105487873">February 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Bhagwant Mann is a prominent face of the AAP in Punjab and is taking on deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad.

The Press Trust of India reported Sunday that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has come to the (financial) aid of human rights activist Irom Sharmila&#39;s new party.

It reported that Mr Kejriwal has donated Rs 50,000 to Sharmila&#39;s People&#39;s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) party, which will be fighting the elections in Manipur.

Mr Kejriwal also took to Twitter, appealing to people to &quot;donate generously&quot; to the fledgling party. And he posted a link to where future donations can be made.&nbsp;

&quot;I am donating Rs 50,000 as my small contribution to her and appeal to everyone to support her,&quot; Mr Kejriwal tweeted. His move went down well with the Twitterati.&nbsp;

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Pl donate generously to Irom Sharmila <a href="https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd">https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd</a>
&mdash; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/832979368850776064">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I&#39;d like to know if any other political party has ever been this generous!! <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal">@ArvindKejriwal</a> sets another precedence!<a href="https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP">https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP</a>
&mdash; Main Irom Hoon Na (@neo_pac) <a href="https://twitter.com/neo_pac/status/833025048218722304">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The PRJA, the Press Trust of India said, was grappling with a severe shortage of both cash and manpower. To buttress the point, it said its members were having to campaign on bicycles.

To try and make up the shortall, the PRJA has resorted to crowdfunding. They have so far managed to raise Rs 4.5 lakh.&nbsp;

The slogan they are using is&nbsp;&quot;Ten For a Change&quot;.

&quot;The online crowdfunding is in line with the party&#39;s call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds.

&quot;Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don&#39;t have transparency in their funds,&quot; PRJA&#39;s convener, Erendro Leichonbam told reporters.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Sharmila's party -- People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance -- has been raising cash via crowdfunding

A day after Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal donated Rs 50,000 to Irom Sharmila's new party, another legislator from his party, Bhagwant Mann, has said he will donate a month of his salary to the human rights activist. As a member of parliament m donating my one month salary to Irom Sharmila who is fighting against corrupt system n injustice in Manipur... — Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 19, 2017 × Bhagwant Mann is a prominent face of the AAP in Punjab and is taking on deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad. The Press Trust of India reported Sunday that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has come to the (financial) aid of human rights activist Irom Sharmila's new party. It reported that Mr Kejriwal has donated Rs 50,000 to Sharmila's People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) party, which will be fighting the elections in Manipur. Mr Kejriwal also took to Twitter, appealing to people to "donate generously" to the fledgling party. And he posted a link to where future donations can be made. "I am donating Rs 50,000 as my small contribution to her and appeal to everyone to support her," Mr Kejriwal tweeted. His move went down well with the Twitterati. Pl donate generously to Irom Sharmila https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 18, 2017 × I'd like to know if any other political party has ever been this generous!! @ArvindKejriwal sets another precedence!https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP — Main Irom Hoon Na (@neo_pac) February 18, 2017 × The PRJA, the Press Trust of India said, was grappling with a severe shortage of both cash and manpower. To buttress the point, it said its members were having to campaign on bicycles. To try and make up the shortall, the PRJA has resorted to crowdfunding. They have so far managed to raise Rs 4.5 lakh. The slogan they are using is "Ten For a Change". "The online crowdfunding is in line with the party's call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds. "Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don't have transparency in their funds," PRJA's convener, Erendro Leichonbam told reporters. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Manipur elections: Short on cash, Irom Sharmila's party gets 50K from Kejriwal, month's salary from Bhagwant Mann

Months after ending &nbsp;her 16-year long hunger strike and floating a political party in India&#39;s northeastern state of Manipur, civil rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila has taken to digital crowdfunding to raise funds&nbsp;for the upcoming state election.

This is a first for a regional party in Manipur and comes at a time when Sharmila&rsquo;s Peoples&#39; Resurgence and Justice Alliance party (PRJA) is gearing up for its first brush with state elections due in March.

Speaking to WION, PRJA&rsquo;s campaign manager Anand Mangnale said that the idea of crowdfunding is in line with the party&rsquo;s call for &ldquo;accountable governance&rdquo;.

&ldquo;When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds for getting the basic information out because we were standing against major parties like the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don&#39;t have transparency in their funds. There is no accountability to it,&quot; Mangnale said.

&quot;We want to go a long way and play a positive part in the politics of India, that&rsquo;s why we launched the crowdfunding. From the beginning itself every single rupee is accounted for and we know who has donated it unlike other national parties which don&rsquo;t disclose 85 per cent of their fund sources,&rdquo; he added.

Sharmila, while speaking at the crowdfunding launch on December 30, said her party was seeking public funds to end the practice of politicians buying votes.

&ldquo;The crowd-fund is also aimed at ending muscle and money power as part of the fight against corruption. Our aim is to change the system for a better Manipur where there is no violence and where there is justice and no corruption,&rdquo; Sharmila had said.

Nearly two weeks since its launch the crowdfunding has managed to raise &nbsp;Rs 2,01,800 ($2,960 dollars approximately).&nbsp;

Indian actress Renuka Shahane is one the major donors.&nbsp;

According to Mangnale, it has also managed to reach out to the huge Manipuri diaspora abroad with students and people working outside the country being able to donate.

Irom Sharmila garnered international attention when she went on a hunger strike in November, 2000, demanding that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), a law that gives Indian Armed forces special powers in areas labelled &ldquo;disturbed&rdquo;.&nbsp;

After refusing food and water for 500 weeks, Sharmila gave up her strike in August, 2016 and announced that she would contest the state elections.&nbsp;

The PRJA was founded two months later, in October, 2016.&nbsp;

While an on the ground fund campaign called &ldquo;ten4change&rdquo;, where people were asked to donate a minimum of ten rupees, was able to gather Rs 20,000, Mangale says Sharmila&rsquo;s &ldquo;iconic&rdquo; stature made the party take the fundraising campaign to a national level through crowdfunding.

&ldquo;Irom Sharmila is an international icon for her fight against atrocities by the armed forces in the state of Manipur and this is why we thought of raising funds at a national level.&rdquo; Mangnale said.

But it wasn&rsquo;t an easy road. According to Mangnale, it was difficult to convince the party workers for crowdfunding.

&ldquo;They asked why were we targeting the rest of India for funds when we should be focussing on Manipur. But we convinced them that Irom Sharmila is beyond Manipur.&rdquo;

Going digital has also facilitated more youth involvement in the party. When it comes to youth participation, northeast Indian states tend to stagger.

The PRJA, however, claims to be a representative of the youth. The party&rsquo;s convener, Erendro Leichonbam, is 33-years old and all the five candidates contesting elections are below 45 years of age.

&ldquo;In the northeast, the young stay away from politics because they think it&rsquo;s dirty. In Manipur especially, people have been cynical that things are going to change. A large number of young people in Manipur are unemployed. There is a lot of discontent . With PRJA there has been a lot of youth involvement. We want them to be a part of the greater agenda and getting them involved digitally is one way,&rdquo; Mangnale said.

(WION)

Irom Sharmila, a civil rights activist, was on a 16-year-long hunger strike demanding the roll-back of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act

Months after ending her 16-year long hunger strike and floating a political party in India's northeastern state of Manipur, civil rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila has taken to digital crowdfunding to raise funds for the upcoming state election. This is a first for a regional party in Manipur and comes at a time when Sharmila’s Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance party (PRJA) is gearing up for its first brush with state elections due in March. Speaking to WION, PRJA’s campaign manager Anand Mangnale said that the idea of crowdfunding is in line with the party’s call for “accountable governance”. “When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds for getting the basic information out because we were standing against major parties like the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don't have transparency in their funds. There is no accountability to it," Mangnale said. "We want to go a long way and play a positive part in the politics of India, that’s why we launched the crowdfunding. From the beginning itself every single rupee is accounted for and we know who has donated it unlike other national parties which don’t disclose 85 per cent of their fund sources,” he added. Sharmila, while speaking at the crowdfunding launch on December 30, said her party was seeking public funds to end the practice of politicians buying votes. “The crowd-fund is also aimed at ending muscle and money power as part of the fight against corruption. Our aim is to change the system for a better Manipur where there is no violence and where there is justice and no corruption,” Sharmila had said. Nearly two weeks since its launch the crowdfunding has managed to raise Rs 2,01,800 ($2,960 dollars approximately). Indian actress Renuka Shahane is one the major donors. According to Mangnale, it has also managed to reach out to the huge Manipuri diaspora abroad with students and people working outside the country being able to donate. Irom Sharmila garnered international attention when she went on a hunger strike in November, 2000, demanding that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), a law that gives Indian Armed forces special powers in areas labelled “disturbed”. After refusing food and water for 500 weeks, Sharmila gave up her strike in August, 2016 and announced that she would contest the state elections. The PRJA was founded two months later, in October, 2016. While an on the ground fund campaign called “ten4change”, where people were asked to donate a minimum of ten rupees, was able to gather Rs 20,000, Mangale says Sharmila’s “iconic” stature made the party take the fundraising campaign to a national level through crowdfunding. “Irom Sharmila is an international icon for her fight against atrocities by the armed forces in the state of Manipur and this is why we thought of raising funds at a national level.” Mangnale said. But it wasn’t an easy road. According to Mangnale, it was difficult to convince the party workers for crowdfunding. “They asked why were we targeting the rest of India for funds when we should be focussing on Manipur. But we convinced them that Irom Sharmila is beyond Manipur.” Going digital has also facilitated more youth involvement in the party. When it comes to youth participation, northeast Indian states tend to stagger. The PRJA, however, claims to be a representative of the youth. The party’s convener, Erendro Leichonbam, is 33-years old and all the five candidates contesting elections are below 45 years of age. “In the northeast, the young stay away from politics because they think it’s dirty. In Manipur especially, people have been cynical that things are going to change. A large number of young people in Manipur are unemployed. There is a lot of discontent . With PRJA there has been a lot of youth involvement. We want them to be a part of the greater agenda and getting them involved digitally is one way,” Mangnale said. (WION)

India: Irom Sharmila's PRJA party takes crowdfunding route to raise funds for Manipur elections

Indian human rights activist Irom Sharmila ended a 16-year hunger strike -- thought to be the world&#39;s longest -- today to stand for election.&nbsp; 
 
Here are five things to know about the woman known as the &quot;Iron Lady of Manipur&quot;. 
 
Who is Irom Sharmila? 
 
The 44-year-old poet and activist was born in a small village in the remote and insurgency-wracked northeast Indian state of Manipur. She belongs to the Meitei ethnic group who dominate Manipur. 
 
She began fasting in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home. 
 
She has been held in judicial custody almost ever since, and has spent much of the last 16 years confined to a hospital ward. 
 
What is her hunger strike about? 
 
She is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, a remote and impoverished Indian state that is home to a number of separatist insurgent groups. 
 
The controversial act allows India&#39;s security forces to shoot on sight and arrest anybody without a warrant and is in force in Indian-administered Kashmir and across much of the northeast. 
 
Last month the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the use of &quot;excessive and retaliatory&quot; force by police and the military in Manipur. 
 
How has she been kept alive? 
 
She has been force-fed via a nasal drip in hospital. Images taken when she emerges from hospital to make one of her frequent court appearances in Manipur show her looking emaciated and frail, with plastic tubes taped to her nose. 
 
What will she do next? 
 
She plans to stand for office in upcoming state elections in Manipur and continue her fight through politics for the repeal of the AFSPA. She has said she will stand as an independent candidate. 
 
She has also said she intends to marry her fiance, a British national of Indian origin, whom she has corresponded with by letter. 
 
How much support does she have? 
 
Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of Conscience in 2013 and she has received several prestigious international prizes, including a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission. 
 
But support in her home state has waned and in recent years she has hinted at her frustration with this. 
 
Some in Manipur have criticised her choice of partner because he is from outside the state, with one insurgent group threatening to kill her if she marries him. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

She began her hunger strike in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home.

Indian human rights activist Irom Sharmila ended a 16-year hunger strike -- thought to be the world's longest -- today to stand for election. Here are five things to know about the woman known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur". Who is Irom Sharmila? The 44-year-old poet and activist was born in a small village in the remote and insurgency-wracked northeast Indian state of Manipur. She belongs to the Meitei ethnic group who dominate Manipur. She began fasting in 2000 after allegedly witnessing the army kill 10 people at a bus stop near her home. She has been held in judicial custody almost ever since, and has spent much of the last 16 years confined to a hospital ward. What is her hunger strike about? She is campaigning for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, a remote and impoverished Indian state that is home to a number of separatist insurgent groups. The controversial act allows India's security forces to shoot on sight and arrest anybody without a warrant and is in force in Indian-administered Kashmir and across much of the northeast. Last month the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the use of "excessive and retaliatory" force by police and the military in Manipur. How has she been kept alive? She has been force-fed via a nasal drip in hospital. Images taken when she emerges from hospital to make one of her frequent court appearances in Manipur show her looking emaciated and frail, with plastic tubes taped to her nose. What will she do next? She plans to stand for office in upcoming state elections in Manipur and continue her fight through politics for the repeal of the AFSPA. She has said she will stand as an independent candidate. She has also said she intends to marry her fiance, a British national of Indian origin, whom she has corresponded with by letter. How much support does she have? Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of Conscience in 2013 and she has received several prestigious international prizes, including a lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission. But support in her home state has waned and in recent years she has hinted at her frustration with this. Some in Manipur have criticised her choice of partner because he is from outside the state, with one insurgent group threatening to kill her if she marries him. (AFP)

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