Congress Defends Shirtless Protest at AI Impact Summit 2026
Political Row Erupts Over Youth Congress Demonstration at Global Event in Delhi
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Friday defended the shirtless protest staged by members of its youth wing during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, describing it as an expression of anger against the Centre over an alleged trade deal with the United States.
In a post on its official “X” handle, the Congress said, “Today, colleagues from the Indian Youth Congress expressed the anger of the country’s youth, farmers, and businessmen through this protest.”
The party alleged that by entering into a trade deal with the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had compromised the interests of Indian youth, farmers, and business owners. It further claimed that “nothing could be more anti-national than this.”
However, the government has clarified that farmers’ interests remain a top priority and that no compromise has been made. The final details of the agreement are expected to be made public next month.
The protest triggered a political controversy as it took place during an international event attended by several foreign delegates and global leaders. Among the prominent attendees were Emmanuel Macron, Antonio Guterres, as well as tech leaders like Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Congress for disrupting an international platform and demanded an apology. BJP MP Sambit Patra described the protest as a “topless, brainless and shameless stunt.” Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the party of attempting to hinder India’s development and termed the act a “national embarrassment.”
Despite the criticism, Congress reiterated in its social media post that raising one’s voice against such issues is essential, emphasizing that the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest. “We will raise the voice of the people under the Constitution and ensure that injustice is not done to them,” the party stated.
According to reports, four Youth Congress leaders gained entry into the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam after registering online, scanning QR codes, and concealing graffiti T-shirts under their outerwear before staging the protest.
