A major controversy unfolded at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi after a group of Youth Congress workers staged a shirtless protest inside the venue. The protest took place at Bharat Mandapam on Friday and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US trade deal. The incident led to detentions and sharp political reactions from both the Congress and the BJP.

According to Delhi Police sources, around 10 individuals claiming to be members of the Youth Congress entered the summit venue using QR-coded passes. The protest took place inside Hall No. 5. The group removed their T-shirts and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They were seen holding or wearing white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Modi and former US President Donald Trump. The shirts also carried slogans such as “India US Trade Deal,” “Epstein Files,” and “PM is compromised.” The protest lasted only a few minutes but created a brief commotion inside the hall. Some attendees expressed shock at the disruption.

A police source said, “Four to five individuals have been taken into custody.” All those detained were taken to Tilak Marg police station for questioning.

A senior police officer confirmed, “They were removed immediately and taken to Tilak Marg police station. No one will be allowed to breach law and order.” Delhi Police also stated that strict legal action would be initiated and that security inside the halls would be increased following what they described as an “unfortunate episode.”

The Congress Youth leaders reportedly involved in the protest include Krishna Hari, National Secretary; Bihar State Secretary Kundan Yadav; UP State Vice President Ajay Kumar; and National Coordinator Narasimha Yadav.

The fact that the protest occurred during a global summit attended by top CEOs and international delegates further intensified the political reaction. The BJP described the act as an attempt to damage India’s image on the global stage.

Uday Bhanu Chib, national president of the Indian Youth Congress, defended the actions of the protesters. He said, “Today, Youth Congress members went to the AI Summit and raised slogans, ‘PM is compromised.’ This anger isn’t just from our Youth Congress members. It’s from every young person who is unemployed today, and every single one of them knows that our Prime Minister is compromised. This trade deal with the US, we all know, will harm our farmers and people. Only America will benefit. It’s our duty to raise their voice. Our country has democracy. We can hold peaceful protests anywhere.”

Chib said the protest reflected the anger of unemployed youth and people concerned about the India-US trade deal.

The BJP strongly criticised the protest and accused the Congress of deliberately trying to embarrass India during an international event.

Amit Malviya, national head of the BJP’s IT cell, called the protest a “national shame” in a post on X. He said, “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. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, Congress workers went topless and created a ruckus at the venue, an act clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stage.”

He further added, “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.”

Delhi Cabinet Minister Sirsa also criticised the protest. He said, “Today, Rahul Gandhi protested in front of Indian National Youth Congress at the AI Summit. He took off his clothes and danced naked in front of foreign guests. This is a very shameful act. Protesting is one thing, but protesting against the government, the country and the image of India in front of international visitors is completely unacceptable. The Gandhi family should think about how low they have fallen. We are very sorry about this and condemn this disgusting protest.”

BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged that the protest was planned at the top level. He said, “This wasn’t planned by some Youth Congress leader on the street. It was planned at Rahul Gandhi’s residence, in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Vadra. This is an experiment, not a coincidence.”

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also reacted strongly. He said, “Congress workers didn’t just take off their shirts at the AI Summit, but they exposed how Congress is anti-India. This is treason. This is tampering with the image of our country. I want to ask Sonia Gandhi ji and Mallikarjun Kharge ji, is politics bigger than the country for them? Have they signed a secret deal to play with the country’s prestige? The public will not forgive this.”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi wrote, “The shameful conduct of members of Indian Youth Congress at Bharat Mandapam once again exposes the hollow core of Congress politics. When there is no vision, no credibility, drama becomes the default strategy. Such behaviour is certainly not expected from a grand old party of the country. Protesting has become their habit because performance politics is easier than performance in governance. At such a major event showcasing India’s global rise, they chose to embarrass the nation instead of respecting its image. With every such act, they are only making themselves look like jokers on the national stage.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also posted, “This is a Global AI Summit, not a BJP election rally! Congress Party itself has become a ‘National Shame.’”

Several guests at the summit said they were surprised by the protest. One visitor carrying an authenticated entry badge told the protesters that their actions “tarnished the image of India” and asked security personnel to remove them.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event has attracted heads of state, global AI experts, researchers, CEOs of major technology companies, and philanthropists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the summit on February 16 in the presence of several world leaders.

A student from Ludhiana who attended the summit said that all visitors had to register online and obtain a QR-coded pass linked to their organisation. These passes were scanned before entry into the venue.

The protest, though brief, created political tension in the capital, demonstrating the narrow political outlook of the Congress party, determined to tarnish the Brand India image during a high-profile global event.