Pictures from the protest (Video/X)
New Delhi: A clash broke out on Saturday between Congress members and BJP workers during the BJP’s protest against the ‘shirtless’ demonstration of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members at the India AI Impact Summit.
According to the video circulating on social media, the confrontation witnessed stone throwing, which prompted the police to intervene to control the situation and ensure public safety.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishna Lalchandani said the clash took place near the Congress office, where the BJP protests were taking place. “There were two parties involved. One party was protesting. The protest was near the Congress office.
The area has been cordoned off and appropriate police arrangements have been made. Suddenly, rumors spread and some stones were thrown. Then the other side also threw stones. “Some people were injured… It is too early to say who threw the first stone,” Lalchandani added.The incident comes in the wake of a ‘shirtless’ protest organized by Youth Congress workers on Friday inside the Bharat Mandapam, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country’s interests during the Amnesty International summit.
During the demonstration, the demonstrators took off their shirts and raised slogans that drew attention to what they described as their political and national concerns.The Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected the bail pleas of four arrested Youth Congress workers – Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narasimha Yadav – and sent them to police custody for five days. Police said the detention was necessary to investigate a possible larger conspiracy, including financing and planning of the protest.
Three policemen were reportedly injured during the encounter.Delhi Police officials said the protesters registered online to obtain QR codes to enter the venue and initially planned to use black umbrellas with printed stickers to convey their message.“But they later felt that the black umbrellas might attract the attention of security personnel guarding the gates, so they changed their plan and put the printed stickers on the shirts instead,” a police source said.The accused reportedly got into an altercation with security personnel and police personnel during the protest. Investigators are also checking whether the demonstration was part of a broader conspiracy linked to similar protests in Nepal.The defendants’ lawyer said that the protest was a form of political opposition and that the workers were being targeted because of their party affiliation. “Political opposition should not be crushed in this way.
The lawyer said that the accused are educated office holders and are exercising their right to peaceful protest.
‘BJP’s reign of terror continues in MP’: Congress reaction to protest
Reacting to the incident, the Congress blamed the BJP leadership in the state for the violence. In a post on the
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