At New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, the site of the India AI Impact Summit, a number of members of the opposition Congress’ youth wing demonstrated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi without shirts on Friday. On social media, a video of the Indian Youth Congress (IYCP) protest has gone viral. It shows a number of protesters entering the site while clutching their t-shirts. In keeping with the party’s recent parliamentary rallies against the India-US trade agreement, the agitators also yelled anti-Modi slogans.
At least four people were taken into custody while a senior police officer told news agency PTI that around 10 people were detained when they were protesting at the AI Summit. “They were removed immediately and were taken to Tilak Marg police station. No one will be allowed to breach the law and order situation,” the officer said.
Members of the Youth Congress who were demonstrating “shirtless” in the Bharat Manadapam on Friday are now facing legal action from the Delhi Police. The police also described how the demonstrators entered the building.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla, the protesters had registered online for the summit, and the incident happened at approximately 12:30 pm.He claimed that the demonstrators were dressed in coats and sweaters rather than offensive T-shirts. One of them took off his outer garments and protested by waving the T-shirt close to Hall Number 5. The official further stated that people in custody are being identified and that the proper legal action is being taken.
Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib told news agency ANI: “Today, Youth Congress members went to the AI Summit and raised slogans, ‘PM is compromised’. This anger isn’t just from our Youth Congress members. It’s from every young person who is unemployed today, and every single one of them knows that our Prime Minister is compromised.”
Calling the India-US trade deal as harmful for the farmers, Chib said that only “America will benefit” from the agreement.
“This trade deal with the US, we all know, will harm our farmers and people. Only America will benefit. It’s our duty to raise their (youth) voice. Our country has democracy. We can hold peaceful protests anywhere,” he added. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday lambasted the Congress party for its protest at the AI Impact Summit, branding it as “characterless, brainless, and emotionless.” Poonawalla accused the Congress of undermining national progress and said this was a protest against national achievements.
“Congress has once again proven that for them, AI isn’t Ambitious India, Artificial Intelligence, Aspirational India. For them, AI is anti-India. This isn’t the INC, this is the ANC, the anti-National Congress. The AI Summit is being praised worldwide. From President Macron to the United Nations Secretary General, to top tech company honchos, from Sam Altman to Sundar Pichai, everyone is praising it. Even Shashi Tharoor said the AI Summit was excellent. But at Rahul Gandhi’s behest, the Congress party is protesting; it is a characterless, brainless, emotionless protest. This isn’t a protest against the BJP, it’s not a protest against the PM, it’s a protest against India’s achievements,” Poonawalla said.
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also slammed the Congress accusing the party of speaking the language of Urban Naxals. “Shame on the Congress Party. On instructions of Rahul Gandhi they storm the International AI Summit. Anti India Congress. Congress needs to apologise to the nation. Congress behaves like Urban Naxals,” he posted on X.
“Our Youth Congress colleagues are Rahul Gandhi’s soldiers. They won’t be intimidated. When there wasn’t an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, the ED case dragged on for so many years. He was summoned for questioning so many times,” Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib told news agency
