2019 Video Recreating Gandhi's Assassination Pinned On Fictitious BJP MLA 'Anil Upadhyay'

The video has been shared with a Hindi caption which translates to, "How will Modiji react to these actions of BJP MLA Anil Upadhyay? Share this video so much that the entire nation can watch it."

(Original text in Hindi: B.J.P. विधायक अनिल उपाध्याय की इस हरकत पर क्या कहेगे मोदी जी, इन video को इतना वायरल करो की ये पूरा हिन्दुस्तान देख सके)

The video can be viewed here and its archive here.

Also Read: 2018 Video From Jammu Falsely Shared As Hindu Women Beaten Up In Pakistan

Fact Check

BOOM was able to ascertain that the enactment of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination did not involve any leader by the name of Anil Upadhyay. We have previously in several stories debunked the fictitious character of Upadhyay who has been used to spread misinformation against BJP and Congress.

Upon relevant keyword searches we came across the same video that was shot on January 30, 2019 in Aligarh.

The shooter dressed in saffron sari is Hindu Mahasabha's national secretary Puja Shakun Pandey. Pandey celebrated the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi along with other members of the party by shooting at an effigy with a toy gun and hailing Nathuram Godse as a 'true Mahatma'. The members also celebrated Shaurya Divas on the same day. According to a report in the Times of India, the members of the outfit also distributed sweets and garlanded a photo of Nathuram Godse to celebrate Gandhi's assassination.

The Hindu Mahasabha is a Hindu nationalist outfit and following their 'reenactment' of Gandhi's killing, the Aligarh police registered a case against Pandey and 13 others for the same.

Reports on the incident can be read here and here.

Who Is The Mysterious Anil Upadhyay?

Anil Upadhyay is a fictional character created to spread misinformation about political parties, irrespective of their affiliation. BOOM has debunked multiple pieces of misinformation that have done the rounds in the name of the same character. Upon investigation, we found there is no MLA by the name Anil Upadhyay who is affiliated to the BJP or any political party.

Read more about the fictitious Anil Upadhyay: Meet Anil Upadhyay, A Fictional Politician Made Up By India's Fake News Brigade