NEW DELHI: A semi-naked protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the India AI Summit has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Leaders from multiple parties condemned the Congress, calling the act inappropriate and alleging that it embarrassed India on an international platform.
According to eyewitnesses, a group of Youth Congress workers staged a semi-naked protest inside an expo hall at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. The protesters held up T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, along with slogans targeting the government and raising concerns over the India-U.S. trade deal.
The situation escalated quickly, with eyewitnesses reporting slogan-shouting and visual displays targeting both leaders, as well as references to the India-U.S. trade agreement. Heated exchanges reportedly broke out between protesters and attendees before security personnel intervened. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show some protesters being manhandled during the commotion.
Eyewitnesses described the protest as an attempt to damage India’s global image. While acknowledging that political dissent is a feature of democracy, several attendees argued that staging such a demonstration during a global summit hosted by India was ill-timed and inappropriate.
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticized the Congress, alleging that the party has a pattern of generating controversy during major international events. He cited the 2015 India-Africa Forum Summit, claiming that the Congress had simultaneously backed the “Award Wapsi” campaign and amplified narratives about intolerance. He also referred to protests during the 2020 visit of the U.S. President, including demonstrations at Shaheen Bagh and anti-government slogans raised in JNU. Naqvi further alleged that during the G20 Summit, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to portray India’s democracy and constitutional institutions in a negative light.
The immediate controversy erupted when Youth Congress workers staged a brief protest inside the summit venue in New Delhi. Delhi Police stated that around 10 individuals were detained. The protesters reportedly removed their shirts and displayed T-shirts printed with images of the Prime Minister and the U.S. President, accompanied by slogans criticising the government and the India-U.S. deal.
An FIR was registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with other charges including unlawful assembly, disobedience of public servants, assault on public servants and violation of prohibitory orders.
A Delhi court later sent four arrested Indian Youth Congress workers to five-day police custody. The accused — Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary from Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president from Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana — were produced before Judicial Magistrate Ravi, who reserved the order before granting custody.
Delhi Police argued that the protesters raised anti-national slogans and displayed objectionable images of the Prime Minister. Counsel for the accused, however, maintained that they were exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest.
BJP National President J.P. Nadda condemned the incident, accusing certain political elements of aligning with what he termed “Urban Naxalism.” He said disrupting a global platform showcasing India’s advancements in artificial intelligence had harmed the country’s reputation.
Telugu Desam Party General Secretary Nara Lokesh expressed shock over the disruption, stating that the AI Summit was meant to project India’s leadership in emerging technologies. Turning such an event into a political spectacle, he said, undermines the nation’s collective image and distracts from innovation and nation-building.
Several alliance partners from the INDIA bloc also criticised the Youth Congress move. While they generally support the right to dissent, they expressed concern that choosing an international platform attended by global delegates and CEOs was inappropriate and potentially damaging to India’s global standing.
BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao said using an international forum like the AI Summit for political demonstrations could adversely affect India’s image. He remarked that while dissent is natural in a democracy, the timing and venue of protests are equally important.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described the episode as shameful and urged political parties to present a united face internationally despite internal differences. In a social media post, he wrote that no political disagreement should demean the country before the world.
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera, Gurdeep Singh Sappal and Supriya Shrinate, defended the Youth Congress workers. Khera criticised Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and questioned why protests were being portrayed negatively.
