New Delhi, Feb 21: Political tensions escalated in Delhi on Saturday as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing staged a demonstration against the Congress following a high profile protest at the AI Impact Summit.
The row originated when four members of the Indian Youth Congress entered the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam and staged a shirtless protest, drawing global attention. The protest, reportedly planned online with concealed T-shirts bearing slogans, was intended to express youth frustration over a controversial US-India trade framework.
BJP leaders slammed the action as a disruption of an international event. Party MP Sambit Patra described the protest as “topless, brainless, and shameless,” while BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called it a “national shame” and accused Congress of obstructing India’s development.
The Congress defended the protest, citing constitutional rights and highlighting grievances of farmers, youth, and small business owners. The party stated it would continue raising concerns over policies it deems detrimental to national interests.
The summit was attended by prominent global figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UN Secretary General António Guterres, and tech leaders such as Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. Despite the political turmoil, the government maintained that India’s trade and economic priorities remain unaffected, with details of the deal expected next month.
Security and summit organizers confirmed that the incident did not pose a threat to participants, emphasizing that the protest was confined to a symbolic demonstration within the venue.