Srinagar to Imphal Save Sharmila Yatra reaches Varanasi on 22nd October 2011

Press Release

Srinagar to Imphal Save Sharmila Yatra

reaches Varanasi on 22nd October 2011

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign(SSSC) has organized a Jan Caravan from Jammu to Imphal to support Irom Sharmila, a Manipuri poet and activist who has been on a fast for 11 years for repeal of AFSPA. The Caravan will cover 10 states. The Caravan has people from different parts of the country. Irom Sharmila’s brother Singhajit is also part of the Caravan.

The Caravan of around 25 people reached Varanasi on 22nd October 2011. The Caravan stayed at Patel Dharamshala.

A seminar on Irom Sharmila and “Security Laws in India and position of human rights activists’ was held at conference hall of the Patel Dharamshala from 10 to 12 PM. The seminar was organized by the Sajha Sanskriti Manch which is a network of 54 local ngos. The speakers included Niti Bhai of Lok Chetna Samiti, Shabbir Bhai, Arvind Skhrwal, and Mahendra Bhai.

Niti Bhai remarked, “In the land of Gandhi, the voice of a true Gandhian should not be neglected”. Arvind Skhrwal added, “Save Sharmila, Save Democracy”. Mahendra Bhai argued that, “If the Government can consider talks with naxals, then why can’t with Irom Sharmila”. The seminar received a good response. 

After lunch, there was a march from Patel Bhawan to Kashi Vidyapeeth. The march saw about 200 people. This was followed by another seminar where one of the Kashmir interlocutor, Mr. Ansari was also present.

The Caravan will now move towards Patna. It has covered Jammu, Srinagar, Ludhiana, Panipat, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur and Lucknow. From Patna, it will then go to Ranchi, Kolkata, Guwahati and then finally to Imphal on 27^th October 2011. 

17 OCTOBER: SRINAGAR to IMPHAL SAVE SHARMILA JAN KARWAN: LUDHIANA

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 17 OCT 2011

LUDHIANA

Srinagar to Imphal Save Sharmila Jan Karwan that is started from Srinagar on 16^th October reached Ludhiana at 6:30 PM after its Jammu Program.

In Ludhiana, the activists received a warm welcome by Prof. Jagmohan Singh (a family member of Shaheed Bhagat Singh). All karwan persons and local activists marched candle light on Ludhiana road from railway station to Bhagat Singh Chowk.

A public meeting was organized at this chowk. Speakers told about the whole issue, AFSPA and reasons to support Irom Sharmila.

Speakers were Megsesay awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Faisal Khan, Shehnaz Malik, Gufran Khan from karwan and Prof Jagmohan Singh, Prof. Malera, Sheetal ji and others.

Departure from Ludhiana 07:00 AM 18 October

17 OCTOBER: SRINAGAR to IMPHAL SAVE SHARMILA JAN KARWAN: JAMMU

Arrival at JAMMU at 5:00 AM 17 Oct

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 17 OCT 2011

JAMMU

Srinagar to Imphal Jan Karvan (organized by Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign) started its journey yesterday from Srinagar. Renowned activists Medha Patekar and Megsesay awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey flagged off the karwan. On this event many other social activists and general public from various parts of country were present there.

Today dated 17 October karwan arrived at Jammu. Total 25 activists are arrived with the Karwan including Dr. Sandeep Pandey and Irom Singhjit (brother of Irom Sharmila). All were marched on jammu roads from Chandnagar to Jammu University. People were gathered in Jammu University and more than 200 students were there. Students of Jammu University were presented a song based
on humanity and peace.

During the public address activists from PSA (Progressive Students Association) and FDR (Forum for Democratic Rights) were came there and expressed their solidarity and support to this karwan.

Faisal Khan, who is leading the karwan informed that this 4500 km journey will culminate at Imphal on 27 October. He also added that this is first time when any such karwan has started to highlight sufferings of AFSPA victims and all have joined the karwan to express their solidarity to Irom Sharmila.

Anuradha Bhasin from FDR, expressed her support and solidaity. She told that we welcome this karwan as it clearly tells us that there are the people who understand the sufferings. There are the people who are fighting to protect democratic values.

Dr. Sandeep Pandey during his address told that we all are in favor of humanity, peace and love. We are here just to show our solidarity towards all who are victims and who are facing the scenario of human rights violation.

Cathleen Kaur and Syed Azhar informed that we all are in favor of peace and humanity and thus we welcome all such moves which support human values and peace.

Irom Singhjit told that I am happy that irom's struggle is spreading in various parts. He added that her struggle is not for a specific region or specific act, instead it is a struggle to protect the values.

Noted senior gandhians Suresh Bhai and Blawant Yadav are also travelling through all routes of yatra.

People from various states joined this karwan. After this meeting Yatra departed for Ludhiana.

Total 10 states will be covered by this karwan and around 4500 km distance will be covered. All volunteers will distribute pampahlets, articles, etc and will organize public meetings, press briefings etc.
In Jammu University, students also collected their signatures and handed over to karwan in support of Save Sharmila solidarity campaign and its demands.

Departure from Jammu 02:00 PM 17 October

SRINAGAR to IMPHAL SAVE SHARMILA JAN KARWAN start 16 OCT SRINAGAR

SRINAGAR

Date: 16 OCT 2011

SRINAGAR to IMPHAL SAVE SHARMILA JAN KARWANstarted its 4500 Km. journey to highlight Irom Sharmila’s cause, who is on hunger protest since last 10 years for her demand to repeal AFSPA. The karwan is organized by Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. Campaign is a joint initiative of various social organizations and movements who are extending their solidarity towards the cause.

Social activists from all parts have come here at Srinagar to start the journey. Around 25 activists first went to Hazratbal to offer their prayer for peace and harmony. Renowned activists Medha Patekar, Megsesay awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey and Irom Singhjit (brother of Irom Sharmila) also came here for the karwan.

From Hazratbal, karwan arrived here at Pratap Park where activists addressed the public and talked to media. Medha Patekar, Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Parveena Ahenger (Chairman, Praents of Disappeared Person), Irom Singhjit (brother of Irom Sharmila) flagged off the karwan led by Faisal Khan. At the time many activists from J&K including Shahabul Haque, Dr. Raza Muzaffar, Firdoos Ahmed Bhawani, Shahnawaz Mir, Tanveer Hussain, Dr. Ghulam Rasool and activists from Manipur Irom Singhjit (brother of Irom Sharmila) and Babloo were alo present there.

Medha Patekar told that we all are against AFSPA and all such laws that violates basic human right. Violence is not recommended in any form. She told that democratic values are in danger everywhere in Kashmir and north east and thus we all started the journey from here to show or solidarity. She also told that cases of disappeared persons should also get listed and government should attend the issues during her address to public.

Megsesay awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey told that we want to raise the issue of Irom among public. He also told that Kashmir should get enough respect and attention to establish democratic values perfectly. 

Er. Ab. Rashid told that we are facing humiliations here and thus we welcome the move of all activists who are raising their voice towards humanity and human rights.

Faisal Khan informed that it is first time when any such journey is organized to protect democratic values and gandhian values. Irom has become a symbol of peace and a voice raise the issue of AFSPA. J&K is also affected from this law on one side and thus we all decided to start the journey from here. Karwan will travel through 10 states and will reach  Imphal on 27^th October.   Mr. Khan told that we are organizing Srinagar to Imphal Jan Karwan to spread awareness about Irom Sharmila and to generate public support for her. Mr. Khan told that our main objective is to make public opinion about sufferings of people who are affected with AFSPA. We will conduct various activities such as pamphlet distribution, public meetings, press meet, nukkar natak etc, throughout the route. We will focus on states where people don’t know about irom and her cause and consequences of AFSPA. We believe that there is no place of such laws in democracy. We are against violencein any form and we oppose all such laws because these are unfit and non aligned with gandhian values. These laws are not dangerous for the public only, but these laws also created a rift between public and administration.We feel that public opinion in non victim states (where AFSPA is not imposed) to repeal AFSPA is very much required to save democracy and justice. He told that this journey will cover 10 states and around 4500 Km. It will move from Srinagar to Imphal via Jammu, Ludhiana, Karnal, Panipat, New Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata and Guwahati. Journey will start on 16^th October and will reach Imphal on 27^th October. On an average we will cover more than one crore of population with the demand to repeal AFSPA.

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign told that the campaign has already launched nationwide protest. This is first time in history when any such campaign that is focused to repeal AFSPA has been launched in 21 states of India. Irom Sharmila, who is on hunger strike since the year 2000 has been ignored by government. Civil society has also not done much for the cause. AFSPA is imposed in J&K and NE states and many thousands people have been killed, tortured, lost in these states. Irom Sharmila is demanding to repeal AFSPA and she has become a symbol of peace and a strong voice against AFSPA. Hence, we all have to extend our support for her fight. J&K is affected with AFSPA on one side and NE states on another. Hence, the journey will start from Srinagar.

Activists of J&K told that we also support the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. We believe that it is our responsibility to extend our support towards the cause. We are victims of AFSPA and we are raising our voice since last many years. We have already seen many peace conferences and seminars in Kashmir but this is first time when a whole campaign is launched. I hope it will be a historical journey from Srinagar to Imphal because no such effort was made ever before. We welcome this move because AFSPA is the basic problem of Kashmir. People who are going towards larger population through this journey are really doing a nice job. We all are dedicated towards the cause. We all extending our support towards this campaign as the campaign is raising the basic issue of AFSPA which is important not only for J&K and NE states (victim states) but for other states too, as it will address the problems of democratic values.

Activists who are in karwan to meet with Irom Sharmila, includes Senior gandhians like Suresh Bhai (Bihar) & Balwant Yadav, Satya Prakash Bharat, Md. Iqbal, Asit Das, Gufran Khan, Adil Khan, Inamul Hasan, Ravi Nitesh, Ehsan Raza, Mahendra Sonawale, Md. Arish, Panakj Pathak, Bilal Kagzi, Ghulam Md. Gorsee, Shabbir, Sarwar, Ghulam Md. Will participate. Some women activists with Shahnaz from Gujrat also joined the karwan from Srinagar.

Campaign members told that many others will also join the karwan from many places of the route. This karwan will travel through Jammu, Ludhiana, Karnal, Panipat, New Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varansai, Patna, Ranchi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal.   

The campaign has already received support of more than 70 organizations including National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM), Asha Parivar, Khudai Khidmatgar, Mission Bhartiyam, Sadbhav mission, ANHAD, J&K RTI Movement, INSAF, PEACE, Centre for Social justice (J&K), Yuva Koshish, SAMAR, Le Mashale, Society for Youth Development, Asian Centre for Social Studies, Just Peace Foundation, We The Common People (WTCP), Student Islamic Organization (SIO), Mahila Chetna Kendra, Inqualab Zindabad, Society for Youth Development, Save Democracy Repeal AFSPA, Rights Initiative, Islamic Releif & Research Trust (Kashmir), Inderwar Educational Society (Kishtwar), Chenab Welfare and Educational Trust (Doda) and many others.  

Departed from Srinagar at 7:00 PM