Hindu

th , Irom Chanu Sharmila On August 9, Irom Chanu Sharmila called off her 16 years long fast but it looks like her struggles are far from ending.

Her own family and many Manipuris supporters disowned her because, for them, this was a clear betrayal from her side. Since nobody is ready to offer her a shelter, Irom Sharmila is currently staying at the Manipur Chapter of Indian Red Cross Society. Many refused to provide her a shelter because, for them, it has security reasons.

However, Veteran actress Renuka Shahane is extending her full support to Irom Sharmila and she ended up offering her a shelter. Renuka took to Facebook to invite Irom Sharmila to come and stay with her. She wrote:

DNA

“Irom Sharmila if you have no place that is willing to accept you please stay with me in Mumbai, it will be an honour!

All those human rights & anti-AFSPA "activists" who were happy & supportive only when you had a tube attached to your nose for force-feeding or only when you were facing the wrath of the State with courage, are not worth a second thought. You are still fighting against AFSPA; you are going to do that with a person whom you have chosen to love & in a manner that you & only you should choose to do. You are so used to dissent.

Now, it is from within the people you considered your own. That is more difficult & painful. Not everyone was on your side in 2000 when you went on your fast; not everyone is on your side now that you've chosen to stop it. Not everyone suffered the consequences with you.

I do not consider myself politically intelligent enough to say I'm even knowledgeable about what your stand is & what its repercussions are. But I stand against all those forces who want to force their opinions; right, left or centre, on any adult woman who has chosen her form of protest, suffered the consequences of her choice, chosen a boyfriend who is "inconvenient" for people close to her & is yet again willing to take on the challenges of her choices.

Why only adult women, I support the freedom of choice of every adult human being. We have to stop this "choice-shaming".

The image of you being sent back to the hospital bed that was your prison for 16 years but has now suddenly become your home because protesting activists, your family & friends wouldn't allow you to live among them, just broke my heart.

It is a sad commentary on the fascism of people who ironically are fighting for human rights! They should try being human first!”

Read Renuka's original post here: