• Source:JND

AI Impact Summit: As the AI Impact Summit 2026 entered its fifth day on February 20, an unexpected shirtless protest by the youth Congress calling Prime Minister ‘compromised’ rocked the venue, attracting criticisms from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Cadres of the Indian Youth Congress on Friday staged a 'shirtless' protest at Bharat Mandapam, criticising the AI impact and raising slogans against PM Modi. 

A senior police officer said that around 10 people were detained when they were protesting at the AI Summit. "They were removed immediately and were taken to Tilak Marg police station. No one will be allowed to breach the law and order situation," the officer said.

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Registering their protest against PM Modi for ‘compromising the identity of the country at the AI Summit’, workers of youth Congress removed their shirts. "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," an official post from the Indian Youth Congress said.

The protest by Congress workers at the Bharat Mandapam came after Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi attacked the Government for allegedly organising a PR event in the name of AI summit and 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."

Event Turned Into Utter Chaos: Malikarjun Kharge

The Congress party president, Mallikarjun Kharge, called out the alleged severe mismanagement at the AI summit in Bharat Mandapam and said that what could have been a ‘showpiece’ event for India turned into ‘utter chaos.’ Further pointing out the mismanagement, Kharge alleged that exhibitors and visitors faced ‘extreme distress’ due to the lack of basic facilities, including the unavailability of water and food

In a post on X, Kharge criticised the government, stating that the summit, which was expected to showcase India's digital and artificial intelligence capabilities to the world, reportedly witnessed large-scale mismanagement.

"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.

Building on the Congress’s criticism of the AI Summit, the party spokesperson, Khera, called Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw incompetent. He further added that for PM Modi, every ‘every event is a Jhappi-Pappi Fest.’

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BJP Calls Congress Urban Naxal

After Congress workers carried out a protest at the AI summit venue, the BJP strongly criticised the move, with its spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari saying, "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."


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