The National General Secretary of the Hindu Mahasabha Shakun Pandey who shot at an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi, and garlanded a statue of Nathuram Godse on Wednesday, 30 January, was seen with two senior BJP leaders, reported NDTV.
In a post shared on Facebook, dated 19 March 2017, Pandey was seen with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Uma Bharti. However, the post seems to have been taken down, according to NDTV.
In Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, Pandey shot at an effigy of Gandhi with an artificial gun, following which 'blood' oozed from it, reported Times Now.
In a video, Pandey is seen aiming at the effigy before pulling the trigger, when she is stopped by the person behind the camera, who can be heard saying, "Chalana nahi. Abhi toh photo session ho raha hai (Don't shoot yet. Right now, it is the photo session).
Pandey also garlanded a statue of Godse, following which she distributed sweets among her supporters.
The police have registered cases against 13 people, including Pooja Shakun Pandey. Two people have now been arrested and the rest are absconding, reported NDTV.
This is not the first time the Hindu Mahasabha has marked Gandhi's death anniversary in such a manner. The saffron outfit generally observes 30 January as 'Shaurya Divas' and distributes sweets to mark the occasion.
This is because while the nation celebrates Gandhi as the 'Father of the Nation', the fringe group holds him responsible for India's partition.
Meanwhile, across the country, several politicians and leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind paid their tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary.
Gandhi was shot dead by Nathuram Godse on 30 January 1948 in New Delhi. Godse was found guilty of the assassination and executed the following year.
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