Youth Congress Shirtless Protest at Bharat Mandapam AI Summit

New Delhi, February 20, 2026: The final day of the prestigious India AI Impact Summit 2026 witnessed unexpected chaos as members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a dramatic "shirtless" protest inside the high-security Bharat Mandapam premises.

The protestors, who managed to enter Hall No. 5 of the exhibition area, removed their shirts and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the government of "compromising national interests" in recent international trade deals.

"PM is Compromised": The Core of the Protest

The agitators were seen holding white T-shirts and posters featuring images of PM Modi alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. They repeatedly chanted the slogan "PM is compromised," specifically targeting the recently signed India-U.S. Interim Trade Deal and the Pax Silica Declaration.

In an official statement released on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Youth Congress stated:

"The truth cannot be suppressed behind the glittering stage of the AI Summit. When corporate interests appear to trump national interests... then protest becomes a duty!"

Key Grievances Raised:

• India-U.S. Trade Framework: Allegations that the deal harms Indian farmers and small-scale industries.

• Data Sovereignty: Concerns that Indian citizen data is being "traded" to foreign tech giants.

• Unemployment: Linking the tech-heavy summit to the ongoing struggle for traditional jobs among India's youth.

Police Action and Detentions

The sudden disruption caught international delegates and tech leaders by surprise. Security personnel and Delhi Police acted swiftly to bundle the protestors out of the hall.

• Number of Detentions: At least 10 IYC members, including national-level coordinators, were detained and taken to the Tilak Marg police station.

• Security Breach Inquiry: Officials are currently investigating how the protestors gained access to the restricted expo area, which requires high-level QR code verification and multi-tier security checks.

BJP Slams ‘Anti-India’ Tactics

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing counter-attack, labeling the protest as a "pre-planned attempt to embarrass India on the global stage."

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla branded the protest as "characterless and brainless," stating:

"For the Congress, AI doesn't stand for Artificial Intelligence or Ambitious India; for them, it stands for Anti-India. They cannot digest the fact that global leaders like Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman are praising India's progress."

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also weighed in, accusing the Congress of "frustration" and attempting to "choke India's development by peddling lies."

The Final Day of the AI Summit

The protest occurred just as the summit was wrapping up its most significant sessions, including the signing of the Pax Silica agreement—a U.S.-led coalition for resilient tech supply chains. Despite the brief ruckus, the summit continued, with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivering a keynote on AI's potential to lift global growth.