India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party swept the polls in Delhi in February 2025, marking its return to power in the capital after more than two decades. But a clip showing a woman performing martial arts stunts with a sword does not show\u00a0the newly elected chief minister as social media posts claimed; t<\/span>he video in fact shows actor Payal Jadhav.<\/h3>\n“Old video of RSS activist Rekha Gupta, who is now the Chief Minister of Delhi. How do you feel now, Kejriwal. Run as far as you can,” <\/span>reads a Hindi-language X post<\/a> shared on February 21.<\/p>\nThe clip shows a saree-clad woman demonstrating what appears to be sword-fighting moves.<\/p>\n
The post surfaced <\/span>after BJP lawmaker\u00a0<\/span>Rekha Gupta<\/span><\/span><\/a> took oath as Delhi’s ninth chief minister on February 20 (<\/span>archived link<\/span><\/span><\/a>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nScreenshot of the false X post, captured on February 21, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP won the local legislature election for Delhi held on February 5,\u00a0ousting<\/a> Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party that had been in power since 2015 (archived link<\/a>). Kejriwal, a prominent critic of Modi, spent several months behind bars last year over accusations his party took kickbacks in exchange for liquor licences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe BJP is in government nationally but has not controlled the local legislature in Delhi since 1998, so its sweeping victory taking more than two-thirds of seats in the polls was both symbolic and strategically important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe video was shared alongside similar claims on\u00a0<\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a> and\u00a0<\/span>X.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\nSword fighting<\/a> is a traditional Indian martial art technique (archived link<\/a>). Old women in India teach<\/a> the practice to younger girls\u00a0as a form of self-defence (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\nComments from users suggest they took pride in the video as it purportedly showed the new chief minister showcasing her prowess.<\/p>\n
“BJP has got another Yogi, today Delhi and will rule the country tomorrow,” one user commented, likening the woman to another firebrand Hindu leader of the BJP.<\/p>\n
Another user said, “I think that in our country all girls should be given self-defence training in schools. It should be made mandatory in all schools. So that girls and women can defend themselves if needed.”<\/p>\n
But the video shows dancer and actor Payal Jadhav, not Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.<\/p>\n
Unrelated video<\/h3>\n
A reverse image search on Google found the same video uploaded on the verified <\/span>Instagram<\/a> account of Jadhav on February 19, 2025 (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n“A tribute to the great deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” read the caption in parts.<\/p>\n
Shivaji<\/a> was an Indian ruler who founded the Maratha<\/span> kingdom in 17th century India (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n![\"<span>Screenshot](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/JJmJdZqwZKvgusRXTlQs9Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ1MQ--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/8bd59ef3e83809cbc73e59674b078c4c\"\/)
The clip shows a saree-clad woman demonstrating what appears to be sword-fighting moves.<\/p>\n
The post surfaced <\/span>after BJP lawmaker\u00a0<\/span>Rekha Gupta<\/span><\/span><\/a> took oath as Delhi’s ninth chief minister on February 20 (<\/span>archived link<\/span><\/span><\/a>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Screenshot of the false X post, captured on February 21, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP won the local legislature election for Delhi held on February 5,\u00a0ousting<\/a> Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party that had been in power since 2015 (archived link<\/a>). Kejriwal, a prominent critic of Modi, spent several months behind bars last year over accusations his party took kickbacks in exchange for liquor licences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The BJP is in government nationally but has not controlled the local legislature in Delhi since 1998, so its sweeping victory taking more than two-thirds of seats in the polls was both symbolic and strategically important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The video was shared alongside similar claims on\u00a0<\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a> and\u00a0<\/span>X.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Sword fighting<\/a> is a traditional Indian martial art technique (archived link<\/a>). Old women in India teach<\/a> the practice to younger girls\u00a0as a form of self-defence (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n Comments from users suggest they took pride in the video as it purportedly showed the new chief minister showcasing her prowess.<\/p>\n “BJP has got another Yogi, today Delhi and will rule the country tomorrow,” one user commented, likening the woman to another firebrand Hindu leader of the BJP.<\/p>\n Another user said, “I think that in our country all girls should be given self-defence training in schools. It should be made mandatory in all schools. So that girls and women can defend themselves if needed.”<\/p>\n But the video shows dancer and actor Payal Jadhav, not Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.<\/p>\n A reverse image search on Google found the same video uploaded on the verified <\/span>Instagram<\/a> account of Jadhav on February 19, 2025 (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n “A tribute to the great deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” read the caption in parts.<\/p>\n Shivaji<\/a> was an Indian ruler who founded the Maratha<\/span> kingdom in 17th century India (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\nUnrelated video<\/h3>\n