New Delhi, Feb 20 : The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday criticised the much-publicised ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’, claiming the event, projected as a global showcase of India’s technological capabilities, instead invited international scrutiny and domestic backlash.
In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the party alleged that fraudulent product displays by a private university overshadowed the government’s push to promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives at the summit held in New Delhi.
Taking a swipe at the BJP led Centre, the editorial remarked that the government has increasingly become associated with “event-driven governance”, adding that the summit followed a similar pattern. It claimed that instead of earning global recognition, the programme resulted in embarrassment due to misleading presentations at the exhibition venue.
The controversy reportedly erupted at Bharat Mandapam, where Galgotias University showcased a four-legged robotic dog named ‘Orion’, projecting it as an indigenous innovation developed at its Centre of Excellence. However, social media users and experts identified the device as the ‘Unitree Go2’, manufactured by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics.
The editorial further alleged that another exhibit a ‘Soccer Drone’ presented as a homegrown engineering feat was traced to South Korea’s Helsel Group.
According to the party, the situation escalated to the extent that organisers cut off power to the university’s stall and directed representatives to vacate the premises.
The editorial also claimed that Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw had initially shared a video of the robotic dog on social media before deleting it after the controversy surfaced, prompting criticism over alleged lapses in oversight.
Amid the row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit and outlined an ethical framework for artificial intelligence termed the ‘MANAV’ Vision. While acknowledging that the address was appreciated by global technology leaders, the editorial argued that the exhibition dispute contradicted the broader message of accountability and credibility.
The Uddhav Thackeray led faction concluded that the summit, intended to reinforce India’s innovation driven growth narrative, instead highlighted concerns over management and authenticity in high-profile international events.