Congress a ‘national shame’, says Rijiju after protest at AI Summit

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (February 20, 2026) called the Congress a “national shame” and hit out at the party following a protest by the Indian Youth Congress members at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 venue.

A group of Youth Congress workers took off their t-shirts that had slogans against the government and the India-U.S. trade deal printed on them.

“This is a Global AI Summit not a BJP Election rally! Congress Party itself has become a “National Shame”!!,” Mr. Rijiju wrote on X.

The BJP shared a video of the protest on X and slammed the Congress writing, “At a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit, showcasing its innovation and leadership in technology, the Congress party chose disruption over dignity.”

The BJP said that the protest was “clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stage.”

“When the nation is striving to position itself as a global technology powerhouse, such conduct only serves the interests of those who wish to see India falter. Political opposition is a democratic right, but sabotaging India’s global image is not. India deserves better,” the party said.

A police officer said around 10 people were detained following the protest. “They were removed immediately and were taken to Tilak Marg police station. No one will be allowed to breach the law and order situation,” the officer said.

The protest followed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government and the AI summit. “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle - Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased,” he had said.

Posting a video of the protest, the Youth Congress said, “In a country where the media, the system, and the prime minister himself have already been compromised, what platform remains to raise a voice against it? If we protest on the streets, we are stopped. Under the guise of IT Rules, social media posts against the government are taken down. The media has become the government’s mouthpiece. So, what avenue remains open to us?”

It said that they were “not against the AI Summit” but opposed “the compromises being made with India’s interests”.

“When the country’s farmers are being bargained away, anti-India trade agreements are being signed, and the youth is kept unemployed while being dragged into politics of hate, should we stay silent,” it asked.

(With inputs from PTI)