New Delhi, Aug 21, 2020: A Zoom meeting organized by Swaraj Abhiyan of Yogendra Yadav on August 20 saw several speakers expressing their solidarity with Prashant Bhushan as his sentence proceeding transpired in the Supreme Court of India.

The meeting started with around 140 participants, but their numbers increased to 400 with 900 people watching live on Facebook page of Swaraj Abhiyan. The gathering pledged solidarity with Bhushan who was to be sentenced for contempt of court on August 20. They also expressed their resolve to stand for freedom of speech, expression and conscience.

The apex court gave the 63-year-old Delhi-based lawyer three days “to reconsider” his statement and tender an unconditional apology by August 24.

The Zoom meeting started with iconic song “Hum Dekhenge” (We Shall See) written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz sung by Iqbal Bano as a mark of resistance during the Benazir Bhutto regime in Pakistan.

Yadav then paid homage to doctor and activist, Narendra Dabholkar who was assassinated on that day in Pune, seven years ago. Hi culprits have not yet been convicted. “Dhabolkar has become a beacon of truth and justice,” asserted Yadav.

As meeting progressed, Advocate Avik Saha presented updates from the court room. He observed that the judgment has not dealt with the detailed affidavit in response filed by Bhushan. According to him, Bhushan fit in the 240 characters of his tweetswhat the nation was already saying in different ways,.

H S Doreswamy, 103-year-old freedom fighter from Karnataka; asserted at the Zoom meeting, “Freedom of speech is not to be violated and not to be violated especially by the Supreme Court…The injustice served to Prashant Bhushan will be remembered.”

Journalist and human rights activist Teesta Setalvad, who is also secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace, described the meeting as a a historical moment.

“Above all, Justice Delivery must be free of any consideration, personal, political, free of vendetta. Vendetta snatches away that essence of justice. Moreover, justice delivery must be Constitutional, governed by no other consideration than the values, principles and rights enshrined in our Constitution,” she said.

Expressing solidarity with Bhushan, she said, “His long career in public service questioning executive wrongs, speaking out against mass killings of the minorities, urging judicial accountability are the stuff that substantive public legends are made of. Not only do we stand with Prashant Bhushan, his wife Deepa, father Shanti Bhushanji and their children, we salute you… and feel ashamed for what you are being made to go through today, by small and petty minds in powerful places.”

Yadav too said the meeting was historic. “We shall always remember that we gathered here at this moment.”

Bhushan’s submission began before the court with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “I am here to cheerfully submit to any penalty that can lawfully be inflicted upon me for what the court has determined to be an offence and what appears to me to be the highest duty of a citizen.”

In response, Yadav said, “This is what legends are made of.”

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, former chief of Naval Staff, said: “Today is a very dark day… This could have been and should have been avoided.” He said he was very depressed and dejected but “we will not stop the fight until the war is won.”

He was joined by his wife Lalita Ramdas, an activist working mainly for education. She said that they were not there just to stand with Prashant Bhushan but also support the Constitution, democracy and the genuine heritage of India. “We will continue to raise our voices aur fir hum dekhenge (then we will see)”.

Another activist Anand Kumar noted that entire India “has come to a stop to stand in solidarity with Prashant Bhushan. All these voices are saying Prashant Bhushan we are with you there is nothing stopping you.” He concluded by saying in Hindi, “If speaking the truth is rebellion, then we are rebels.”

The meeting showed visuals such as people protesting on the streets outside the Supreme Court and young advocates in Gwalior chanting in Hindi, “Prashant Bhushan, keep fighting, we area with you.”

Activist and Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna, who joined the meet, said, “This is a moment for us to activate larger conversations. This is the beginning of something big.”

Harsh Mander, a human rights activist and a friend of Bhushan, said, “Like so many across the country I stand with Prashant Bhushan with my heart full. He is a true advocate for justice. I am proud to count him as my dear friend He is a man of such immense courage and integrity.”

Activist Ganesh Devy said that Bhushan has won in the people’s court because he is protecting the Constitution and for that he had to speak up against the judiciary. He further said that the government and the judiciary are both creatures of the Constitution and hence it was important to protect the Constitution.

Source: sabringindia.in