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'No need for war-mongering from either side'

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, Oct 1 - In the backdrop of escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, rights activist Irom Sharmila today said there was �no need for war-mongering� from either side, while emphasising that lasting peace can be achieved through dialogues and not aggression.

�There are Hindu and Muslim families living on both sides, and I do not see why there should be enmity or quarrel. There should not be any war-mongering from India or Pakistan side.

�There should be no aggression or a bid to show as to who is more powerful or wiser. We should work out peace through negotiations... If I was the PM, I would just say, people should just cool down,� she told a press conference here.

The Manipuri �Iron Lady� also reiterated the long-standing demand for repealing of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA), which she has termed as �draconian� and �against the very idea of democracy� that India is.

The iconic activist, whose 16-year-old hunger strike ended in August, also suggested that �the Constitution should be amended regularly to suit the sentiments of the people.�

�The Constitution should be amended regularly as we are a multi-cultural nation. And, we are different in appearance, geography, so the amendments must be done accordingly,� she said.

When asked to respond on the Indo-Pak situation post the surgical strike by the Army across the LoC, she said, �People and press have been asking me what was my feeling on the recent Indo-Pak situation, but I am fed up of it. I only have to say, aggression is not the answer, from either side. We have to negotiate to find peace.�

The press conference hosted by a alliance of several woman rights groups was also addressed by noted Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover on the AFSPA issue. She said, �In this heightened time of jingoism, I must say that there should not be any immunity to Army and this law must be repealed.�

Co-organiser of the press conference and woman rights activist Vani Subramanian said, �We jointly launched a campaign �Stand With Irom Sharmila: Repeal AFSPA� in March and over 1,000 women activists, and professionals from top to grassroots level have endorsed this.�

�We soon plan to send this petition drawn up in the campaign to the President,� she said. � PTI

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