Youth Congress Chief Arrested Over Shirtless Protest at AI Impact Summit
New Delhi:
Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress, was arrested early Tuesday in connection with the shirtless protest held during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
According to police sources, Chib was taken into custody after nearly 15 hours of questioning at Tilak Marg police station. Investigators alleged that he failed to cooperate during questioning and attempted to mislead officials. Authorities claimed they have sufficient evidence linking him to the incident. Chib is expected to be produced before a court later today.
This marks the eighth arrest in the case related to the protest, which had triggered political controversy and strong reactions from multiple parties.
BJP Slams Protest, Calls It “Anti-India”
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticised the demonstration, describing it as “characterless, brainless, and emotionless”. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of undermining India’s global image at a time when the summit was drawing international praise.
He said the AI Impact Summit had been widely appreciated by global leaders, international organisations, and top technology executives, and alleged that the protest was carried out at the behest of Rahul Gandhi.
According to the BJP, the demonstration was not directed at the government or the Prime Minister but was “a protest against India’s achievements”.
Youth Congress Defends Demonstration
The Youth Congress, however, defended the protest, asserting that it was peaceful and intended to draw attention to what it termed serious national issues. The organisation said the demonstration was aimed at engaging the youth present at the summit and did not involve violence or damage to property.
Youth Congress leaders also alleged that their workers had faced police action during recent protests across the country and accused the government of suppressing dissent. They further claimed that opposition voices were not being allowed to raise certain international and domestic issues in Parliament.
Background of the Incident
The shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit had briefly disrupted proceedings at the high-profile event, which was attended by policymakers, global technology leaders, and international delegates. The incident prompted heightened security measures at the venue and led to multiple detentions over the past few days.
With Chib’s arrest, the political standoff between the BJP and the Congress has intensified, even as investigations into the protest continue.
