Youth Congress Shirtless Protest at AI Summit Sparks Outrage

A shirtless protest by Indian Youth Congress workers at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi has drawn widespread criticism, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress of tarnishing India’s image at a prestigious global forum meant to showcase the country’s technological prowess.

The protest unfolded inside the summit’s exhibition hall, where Youth Congress members walked around holding T-shirts with slogans against the Union government and the India–US trade deal . Security personnel swiftly removed the protesters, and Delhi Police later arrested four IYC leaders and registered a case.

The BJP termed the incident a “National Shame,” stating that when India is positioning itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence, such theatrics project political immaturity and disrespect for national platforms. The party said dissent cannot justify turning an international summit into a spectacle of disruption.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva described the act as hooliganism, alleging that the Congress was unsettled by India’s rising global stature.

The BJP’s youth wing also demonstrated outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence , holding him responsible for the Youth Congress’s conduct.

Later, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called the protest “pure political recklessness,” saying it distracts from the work of scientists, startups and young innovators and weakens India’s credibility on the global stage.

The Congress has yet to respond.