BINALAKSHMI NEPRAM, FOUNDER OF THE MANIPUR WOMEN GUN SURVIVORS NETWORK:

Today is a very historic day for the people of Manipur and it is a day of mixed feelings. First of all, the iconic struggle of 16 years of living without food, though she was fed through the nose, showed to the whole world how India as a democratic country has failed.

Manipur, which is home to 2.2 million people, has not been in a democratic state of affairs for the last 30 or 40 years.

In terms of Sharmila taking a plunge into politics, the Indian political and democracy system right now is extremely dirty and corrupt, particularly in Manipur where it is men with guns and drugs who rule the roost.

For the last five to six years, we have been talking to her because even ... Mahatma Gandhi [who used] it as a political tool says fasting should be used as a means, not an end in itself.

We've been speaking to her [Sharmila] to change her strategy. But as I said, the whole movement with the repeal of the armed forces special special powers act started even before Sharmila.

We cannot rest. She is an icon for us. We love her dearly. But [she's] an icon alone.

For us, the struggle is not the fast, but the repeal of the draconian armed forces special powers act, which was put in the Indian parliament in 1958 and [still exists].