The Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing staged a protest in Delhi on Saturday, targeting the Congress over the Indian Youth Congress’s demonstration at the AI Impact Summit held in the capital a day earlier.
The protest marks the latest escalation in a political row that began after members of the Indian Youth Congress entered the summit venue and staged a shirtless protest. The incident has triggered sharp exchanges between the two parties, with the BJP calling it a disruption of an international event and the Congress defending it as a constitutional right.
#WATCH | Delhi | BJP Yuva Morcha holds a protest against the Congress party over the Indian Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit yesterday. pic.twitter.com/BAxK20QLF6
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026
The Youth Congress protest took place at Bharat Mandapam, where global leaders and technology executives were present. According to IANS, four Youth Congress leaders had registered online, entered by scanning QR codes, and concealed T-shirts with graffiti under their outerwear before revealing them during the protest.
The Congress defended the act, saying it reflected anger among young people, farmers, and business owners over a reported trade deal with the United States. In a post on social media platform X, the party said its youth members had expressed public concern through protest and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interests.
The government has maintained that farmers’ interests remain a priority and that there has been no compromise. Details of the trade agreement are expected next month.
The BJP has strongly criticised the manner of protest. BJP MP Sambit Patra described it as a “topless, brainless, and shameless” act. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called it a “national shame” and accused the Congress of attempting to hinder India’s development.
The summit was attended by several international dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, along with technology leaders such as Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai.
The Congress, however, has said the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to protest and that it will continue to raise its voice against what it describes as injustice.