'Disgraceful Conduct': Govt Slams Congress's Protest At AI Summit, Says 'Public Taught Them Lesson'

Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 11:56 IST

Kiren Rijiju condemned Indian Youth Congress activists' shirtless protest at AI Impact Summit 2026. Four were arrested as police probe a larger conspiracy angle.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday condemned the actions of the Indian Youth Congress activists, who held a protest during the AI Impact Summit 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Friday, calling it a “disgraceful conduct."

In a post on X, the Union Minister stated that he was shocked to see Congress leaders defend the act. “I was expecting that Congress party would apologize for the shameful behavior of youth congress activists. I couldn’t believe my ears when Congress leaders defended the disgraceful conduct! Public taught them a lesson! Some Journalists (actually Congress activists) justified too," Rijiju tweeted.

On Friday, a group of Youth Congress members staged a shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam, holding posters and chanting slogans against the PM Narendra Modi-led government. Subsequently, the Delhi Police arrested four Congress activists from the group. The four individuals, including Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav, were scheduled to be produced at Patiala House Court at 11.30 am on Saturday.

‘We’re Descendants Of Gandhi’: Indian Youth Congress Defends Protest

Earlier in the day, the Indian Youth Congress defended its shirtless protest at the summit, saying the youth wing are “descendants of Gandhi" while posting a shirtless image of Mahatma Gandhi. “We are descendants of Gandhi… Shirtless, if need be. We fought yesterday; we will continue to fight ahead," the tweet read.

In its defence, the Indian Youth Congress on Friday called the party workers “soldiers of the Constitution" and pledged to continue raising their voices.

Police Probe Larger Conspiracy Angle

Police officials described the protest as planned. “The incident occurred around 12:30 PM. They registered online and entered through QR code scanning. They were wearing sweaters and jackets on top and a T-shirt underneath. Near Hall 5, they removed their sweaters and jackets. They protested while waving their T-shirts. We are taking appropriate legal action against them," CP Devesh Kumar Mahla told ANI.

Investigators are examining where the T-shirts were printed and probing a larger conspiracy, noting that protesters had initially planned to use black umbrellas.

The protest came after Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, criticised the AI Summit for alleged mismanagement. Kharge described it as “utter chaos," claiming visitors and exhibitors faced extreme distress due to lack of basic facilities, while Rahul Gandhi called it a “disorganised PR spectacle" that allgedly compromised Indian data.

The protest drew criticism from summit attendees. Sumit Patni told ANI, “As a visitor, I feel this is not the right place to hold such a protest. It gives a bad image to the country."

NP Gandhi echoed the sentiment, saying, “Doing such a thing at a global event is very wrong."

The incident has triggered a First Information Report (FIR) under serious sections, and the investigation into the planning and larger conspiracy is ongoing.

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