FactCheck: Old Video of India-Pakistan Independence Day Celebrations in London Falsely Linked to Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

What is the claim?

A video circulating on social media claims to show a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in London, where Pakistani flags were allegedly more prominent than Indian flags.

Verdict: Misleading

What did we find?

The viral video does not show a protest against Gyanesh Kumar or the SIR process in India. According to research published by CyberPeace on October 21, 2026, the footage shows an event held in London on August 15, 2026, to mark the Independence Days of India and Pakistan. The video was subsequently shared online on October 17, the same day protests against Gyanesh Kumar reportedly took place in London. This timing appears to have contributed to the footage being presented with a misleading context.

How was the video traced?

During its investigation, CyberPeace found the same video on the Instagram account of Amir Hashmi, a Pakistani singer based in London. The footage was uploaded on October 17, 2026. Researchers also located an earlier video posted on Hashmi’s account on August 16, containing visuals matching those in the viral clip. Its caption identified the gathering as a joint celebration of Indian and Pakistani Independence Days at Piccadilly Circus in London. Another post on the same account referred to the event as taking place at Piccadilly Circus on August 15, local time in England. These matching visuals and the earlier upload establish that the footage predates the October protests and depicts a different event.

What is the actual context?

India and Pakistan both observe their Independence Days in August, on August 15 and August 14, respectively. The video identified by CyberPeace relates to a joint celebration in London, rather than a demonstration against India’s Chief Election Commissioner. Although the clip was reposted on October 17, its upload date does not establish that it was filmed during the protests held that day. The supplied investigation also provides no evidence supporting the social media allegations of Pakistani involvement in a conspiracy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Conclusion

The claim that the viral video shows Pakistani flags being waved during a London protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar is misleading. The footage matches a video of India-Pakistan Independence Day celebrations held at Piccadilly Circus on August 15, 2026. The video was shared again on October 17, coinciding with reported protests against Gyanesh Kumar, but the timing of its repost does not change the original context of the footage.An older video of a joint India-Pakistan Independence Day event in London has been circulated with an unrelated claim linking it to protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The evidence presented by CyberPeace does not support that interpretation.The posts suggest that Pakistanis participated in large numbers in demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in India. Some posts further allege that Pakistan’s involvement points to a broader conspiracy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.