New Delhi: Ten members of the Indian Youth Congress were detained on Friday after they staged a protest inside an exhibition area at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit, police officials confirmed.
According to authorities, the group entered the expo hall and began raising slogans critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some protesters were seen carrying T-shirts bearing the Prime Minister’s image while shouting “PM is compromised,” briefly interrupting activity at the high-profile event.
Security personnel intervened and escorted the demonstrators out of the venue. They were later taken to the Tilak Marg police station for questioning. Police officials stated that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb public order, adding that no individual would be permitted to break the law.
The AI Impact Summit, hosted at the prominent Bharat Mandapam complex, had drawn policymakers, industry leaders, technology experts and international delegates to discuss advancements and collaboration in artificial intelligence. The disruption, though short-lived, caused a temporary pause in proceedings inside the exhibition hall.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticised the protest. Party spokesperson C. R. Kesavan described the incident as unjustifiable and accused the Congress of trying to dent India’s image during a global gathering. He alleged that such behaviour reflected a broader pattern of conduct aimed at undermining the country’s progress and said young citizens would take note of these actions.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also condemned the demonstration in a social media post, calling it a “national shame.” He argued that while India was showcasing its technological capabilities on an international platform, the opposition party chose to create a disturbance instead. Malviya maintained that democratic dissent is legitimate but said attempts that could negatively affect the country’s reputation abroad were unacceptable.
The BJP further linked the protest to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the party leadership was encouraging actions intended to embarrass India at important global forums.
There was no immediate response from the Congress party on the BJP’s remarks at the time of reporting.
