NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders and Congress allies on Saturday slammed the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) for its “almost naked” protest at the AI Impact Summit, terming the act “inappropriate” and saying it has brought shame on the country on an international platform.Speaking to reporters, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said, “…We may have internal divisions, but what the Congress did on the global platform was not appropriate.”
Congress paradox: Tharoor hails AI summit as youth stage shirtless protest at the venue
He added, “They should have refrained from doing something that would bring shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and representatives of the world…”
The remarks come after around 10 IYC workers were arrested on Friday after they briefly raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Exhibition Hall No. 1.
5 at Bharat Mandapam during the summit, sparking a political storm.The demonstrators had entered the venue wearing or carrying white T-shirts bearing pictures of Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India-US trade deal”, “Epstein files” and “PM hacked”, leading to a heated debate with the attendees.
“They made us all feel ashamed.”
YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote on X, “Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress put us to shame.
Where is our policy headed? “No one should insult our country.”He added, “No matter our political differences, we must always present a united face to the world.”
“Totally inappropriate and reprehensible.”
BSP chief Mayawati also expressed the same sentiment saying that at an internationally important event like the AI Impact Summit, “any expression of anger through semi-nudity by those who did so during the event – most of whom are said to be young Congressmen – is completely inappropriate and reprehensible.”“If this conference did not have international status, it would be completely different; but such behavior during the summit raises concern, which means it would be appropriate not to tarnish the dignity and image of our country,” she wrote on X.
“There could have been a better way.”
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that although there were grievances, the manner of protest could have been better.“I said this yesterday, and I say it again today: injustices exist, and no one can deny that.
Whether it was a lack of clarity in the deal or issues with the Epstein files, there could have been a better way to address these concerns. From my point of view, the Youth Congress took action, but personally, as I see it, any movement must be dealt with responsibly.”“In the past, BJP members have done similar things, but that does not make it right for anyone. The point is that grievances are there, people especially a section of farmers are concerned, and there could have been a better option of how and where to express these concerns,” he added.
BJP calls Kunj ‘topless, brainless and shameless’
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday criticized the Congress and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for the shirtless protest, calling it a “despicable act.”BJP MP Sambit Patra said: “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party are traitors of the highest order. The nation’s biggest traitors. Wherever the country progresses, wherever happiness reigns, they will definitely spoil it. These are traitors… I have only three words for Congress: topless, brainless and shameless.”“Today, they are bare-chested, brainless. Congress does not have much sense that the ongoing AI summit is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit for the entire world,” he added.
Later, the Indian Youth Congress in a statement defended its move, saying its workers were protesting against the “compromising Prime Minister who traded on the country’s identity at the AI summit.”“This is why the brave workers of the Indian Youth Congress have reached Bharat Mandapam.. so that a voice can be raised against the ‘compromising PM’ and the Modi government is forced to answer for the concessions being made on the honor of the country!” She added.
