Rahul Gandhi Backs Youth Congress Following Uday Bhanu Chib’s Arrest, Calls Members ‘Babbar Sher’

New Delhi, Feb 24 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday expressed strong support for the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) following the arrest of its national president, Uday Bhanu Chib, over the recent protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Gandhi praised the Youth Congress members as “fearless” and reiterated that peaceful protest is a democratic right.

“Peaceful protest is our historical legacy. It is in our blood and is the democratic right of every Indian. I am proud of my Babbar Sher comrades in the Youth Congress, who have fearlessly raised their voices in the interest of the country against the ‘COMPROMISED PM,’” Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib

Chib was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the “shirtless” demonstration at the AI Summit last week and sent to four days’ police custody. He was booked for criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing harm to a public servant, obstructing a public servant on duty, and wilful disobedience. Chib had reportedly been questioned for nearly 20 hours before the arrest.

Criticism of India-US Trade Deal

Gandhi slammed the recently concluded India-US interim trade framework, alleging that it compromises the interests of farmers, the textile sector, and national data security. He linked Chib’s arrest to the government’s handling of dissent, calling it “proof of dictatorial tendencies and cowardice.”

“The Trade Deal with America has compromised the interests of the country. This agreement will harm our farmers and textile industry and hand over our data to America. The arrest of Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib and other IYC comrades for bringing this truth before the country is proof of dictatorial tendencies and cowardice,” Gandhi said.

Youth Congress Protest at AI Summit

During the India AI Impact Summit 2026, IYC members entered the Expo Hall with posters, chanting slogans, and later removed their T-shirts to highlight their protest. The summit, held from February 16–20 in Delhi, was the first global AI forum hosted in the Global South, attended by policymakers, industry experts, academicians, and civil society representatives.

Party Leadership Condemns Arrest

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned Chib’s detention, stating that the youth’s frustration stems from lack of employment and deteriorating national conditions. “I condemn such an arrest. The youth today are desperate for jobs, and the environment in the country has deteriorated so much that people are very angry with PM Modi,” Kharge said.

IYC National General Secretary Shesh Narayan Ojha defended the protest, emphasizing that a peaceful demonstration is not anti-national, while criticizing the Centre for arrests and detentions related to the case.