On February 20, 2026, on the last day of **India AI Impact Summit 2026** at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, a major political controversy erupted when members of **Indian Youth Congress (IYC)** staged a dramatic “shirtless” protest inside an exhibition hall.
**Protest details and police response**: Around 10-15 IYC workers entered the venue (some through online registration and QR code), took off their shirts/jackets in Hall No. 5 around 12:30 pm, raised slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi (e.g., accusing him of being “compromised”), Modi and US President Donald Trump. Photographs, and waved T-shirts critical of the India-US trade/tariff deal. They chanted anti-government slogans, disrupting the event attended by international delegates, policy makers, tech leaders (including Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman), and executives. Delhi Police immediately intervened and detained the group; Reports confirm that **four people have been arrested** (identified as Krishna Hari, National Secretary; Narasimha Yadav, National Coordinator; Kundan Yadav from Bihar; Ajay Kumar from UP), and legal action has been initiated against them under charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and endangering security. Some people have not been identified, and investigation is underway through facial recognition. An FIR has been registered.
**Defense of Youth Congress**: IYC National President Uday Bhanu Chib defended the protests, calling them the anger of unemployed youth, opposition to agreements in perceived national interest (e.g., trade deals that harm farmers), and the democratic right to express their views peacefully. The party made it clear that it opposes the government’s “priority to corporate interests”.
**Strong criticism of BJP**: The Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the move, calling it a “characterless, brainless, emotionless” and “anti-national” stunt aimed at tarnishing India’s global image during a famous summit that was praised across the world (which included French President Macron, the UN Secretary-General, tech CEOs and even Congress MP Shashi Tharoor). BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called the Congress “anti-national Congress” (ANC), and alleged that it is at the behest of Rahul Gandhi and opposing “India’s achievements” rather than the BJP or the PM. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the “Gandhi-Vadra family” of being jealous of the country’s honour, and said that if there is even a little patriotism left then they should apologise. Union Minister Piyush Goyal called it “arrogance and frustration of Congress”.
**About the Summit**: The five-day (circa February 16-20, 2026) India AI Impact Summit, in collaboration with the India AI Mission and Digital India, focused on three pillars—People, Planet, and Progress—convening global leaders to drive actionable AI outcomes.
The incident was widely criticized, and critics saw it as an embarrassment on the international stage showcasing India’s tech leadership.
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