Cadres of the Indian Youth Congress on Friday staged a ‘shirtless’ protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit, raising slogans of “PM is compromised” and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national interests. Police later detained several protesters from the venue.
The protest comes amid an escalating political row over the conduct and purpose of the AI Summit, with the Congress leadership accusing the government of mismanagement and turning the event into a “PR spectacle”. The ruling BJP, in turn, has strongly criticised the protest, calling it “anti-India” and demanding an apology.
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What happened at Bharat Mandapam
According to ANI, party workers removed their shirts as a mark of dissent during the demonstration. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit.”
“Indian Youth Congress workers raised their voice and protested against the compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit,” the organisation said in an official post.
Delhi Police says it is taking legal action in connection with the protest by the Indian Youth Congress. https://t.co/eygMgM5aHs
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026
National President of the Indian Youth Congress, Uday Bhanu Chib, said, “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. 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 voice. Our country has democracy. We can hold peaceful protests anywhere…”
Police detail how protesters entered summit venue
Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla said the incident took place around 12:30 pm and that the protesters had entered the venue after registering online.
“The incident occurred around 12:30 PM. They registered online and entered through QR code scanning. They were wearing sweaters and jackets on top and a T-shirt underneath. Near Hall 5, they removed their sweaters and jackets. They protested while waving their T-shirts. We are taking appropriate legal action against them. We detained four of them and are identifying the rest,” Mahla said.
He added that legal action is being initiated against those involved.
Congress sharpens attack over AI Summit
The protest followed Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi attacking the government over the organisation of the summit. He said, “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also alleged mismanagement of the event. In a post on X, Kharge said that what could have been a “showpiece” AI Summit for the world had reportedly turned into “utter chaos.”
“What could have been a showpiece AI Summit for the entire world, demonstrating the digital and AI capabilities of India, has reportedly turned into utter chaos and rank mismanagement by this ‘PR hungry’ government!” Kharge said.
Kharge further claimed that visitors and exhibitors faced “extreme distress” due to the lack of basic facilities such as food and water.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also criticised the government and Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw.
In a post on X, Khera said that Vaishnaw had proved that in India AI means “‘Ashwini is Incompetent.’ As for the ‘Pradhan (Tamasha) Mantri’ – every event is a Jhappi-Pappi Fest. This was supposed to be an AI Summit – a platform for innovation and exchange of ideas. BJP reduced it to a cheap China Bazaar”.
.@AshwiniVaishnaw has proved that in India AI means “Ashwini is Incompetent.”
As for the “Pradhan (Tamasha) Mantri” – every event is a Jhappi-Pappi Fest.
This was supposed to be an AI Summit – a platform for innovation and exchange of ideas. BJP reduced it to a cheap China… pic.twitter.com/qGxaQ6aboh
— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) February 18, 2026
BJP calls protest ‘anti-India’
The actions of the Youth Congress cadre have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, “Shame on 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.”
Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “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…”