Hindu Mahasabha leader arrested for recreating Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination

The Uttar Pradesh Police on February 5 arrested Pooja Shakun Pandey, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha leader, from Tappal in Aligarh district for enacting the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary. Pandey’s husband, Ashok Pandey, was also arrested.

Following her arrest, Pooja Pandey was quoted as saying, “No regrets. We have not committed any crime. We have used our constitutional right.” The Indian Express quoted Pandey’s husband as saying, “We don’t find anything wrong in it because the country celebrates Ravan dahan as well by recreating the scene. We have done the act inside our office premises. He (Gandhi) was also responsible for Partition… Over 10 lakh Hindus died.”

The Police had lodged a first information report against nine people, including Pooja and her husband after a purported video surfaced on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In the video, Pooja was seen shooting at the late leader’s effigy with an air pistol.

“They have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 147 (rioting),” the police told The Indian Express.