Members of the Federation of Palani Hill Tribals, Palaiyan and Pulaiyan Communities; the South Asian Peoples’ Initiatives; the Kodaimalai Ambedkar Unorganised Workers Union; and the Adhi Thamizhar Peravai, have unanimously extended their support to social activist Irom Sharmila and have appealed to the government to grant her permission to register her marriage in Kodaikanal and allow her to lead a peaceful life.
In a joint petition submitted to the RDO office and to the Sub-Registrar office here on Thursday, the President of the Federation of Palani Hill Tribals, Palaiyan and Pulaiyan Communities M. Leelavathi said that every citizen of India should be able to live independently in any part of the country under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution. Preventing her liberty amounted to violation of the Constitution and also an offence.
Currently, some individuals are trying to tarnish her image and disrupt her marriage. These individuals do not represent the tribal community of Kodaikanal as no tribal in the hill would go against her as she fought for the tribals in Manipur in a Gandhian way.
Members of other organisations also said the social activist should be respected and allowed to perform her marriage in Kodaikanal itself. The RDO should provide adequate protection to the couple to live in Kodaikanal and lead a peaceful life.
Unorganised Workers Union general secretary V. Thirumurugan and Aadhi Thamizhar Peravai union secretary M. Karuppusamy have also signed the petition.
