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#HumDekhenge Trends On Twitter As People Show Solidarity With Prashant Bhushan

While Prashant Bhushan told Supreme Court, "I am pained that I am grossly misunderstood" , people took to the streets and also tweeted in support of him.
Indian Supreme Court lawyer and anti-corruption activist Prashant Bhushan in a file photo.
MANJUNATH KIRAN via Getty Images
Indian Supreme Court lawyer and anti-corruption activist Prashant Bhushan in a file photo.

On Thursday, as the Supreme Court heard arguments on sentencing in the contempt case against Prashant Bhushan, political party Swaraj India organised a protest in solidarity with the senior advocate.

Earlier int he day, the court had rejected Bhushan’s plea for hearing of his sentencing by another bench. Last week, Bhushan was held guilty of contempt of court for over two tweets about Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde and the Supreme Court.

The court had said they could not be counted as a fair criticism of the functioning of the judiciary made in the public interest.

Live Law quoted Bhushan as saying in court, “I am pained at the verdict that the Court held me guilty. I am pained that I am grossly misunderstood. I am shocked that the court concluded at the conclusion without providing any evidence about my motives.”

It also reported Bhushan as quoting Gandhi: “I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose”.

Over1,800 advocates had signed a statement asking for an open court hearing by a larger bench after the pandemic was over. After last week’s verdict, senior advocate Indira Jaising had told HuffPost India that it was “bad news for free speech”.

While the hearing went on, #HumDekhenge trended on Twitter. Swaraj India, a political party that Bhushan was a part of, began tweeting with the hashtag, apart from holding a physical protest outside the Supreme Court. Soon, many others picked up the hashtag, calling for justice for Bhushan.

Hum Dekhenge, a Urdu poem written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, was a protest call during the anti-CAA protests recently .

It was penned as a mark of protest against General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq’s regime in Pakistan.

Here’s what people said on Twitter:

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.