YC SHIRTLESS PROTEST AT AI SUMMIT LEADS TO BACKLASH

Youth Congress demonstration leads to arrests and nationwide condemnation.

- TIKAM SHARMA

A semi-naked protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the India AI Summit has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Leaders from multiple parties condemned the Congress, calling the act inappropriate and alleging that it embarrassed India on an international platform.

According to eyewitnesses, a group of Youth Congress workers staged a semi-naked protest inside an expo hall at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. The protesters held up T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, along with slogans targeting the government and raising concerns over the India-U.S. trade deal.

The situation escalated quickly, with eyewitnesses reporting slogan-shouting and visual displays targeting both leaders, as well as references to the India-US. trade agreement. Heated exchanges reportedly broke out between protesters and attendees before security personnel intervened. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show some protesters being manhandled during the commotion.

Eyewitnesses described the protest as an attempt to damage India’s global image. While acknowledging that political dissent is a feature of democracy, several attendees argued that staging such a demonstration during a global summit hosted by India was ill-timed and inappropriate.