A provocative protest by Youth Congress activists at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam on February 20 has ignited a firestorm of criticism from BJP heavyweights. The shirtless demonstration against the government prompted Union Minister Piyush Goyal to brand it as evidence of Congress’s arrogance and mounting desperation.
Posting on X, Goyal unleashed on Rahul Gandhi: ‘Congress’s pride and frustration are evident. Humiliating India to target the government is your playbook. Lies about trade deals to stall progress, and now shirtless marches at a premier AI summit shaming 140 crore Indians.’ He positioned the act as a glaring void in Congress’s national roadmap.
The summit, a platform for India’s AI innovation, was overshadowed by the unruly scene. Ravneet Singh Bittu, Minister of State, lamented the choice of humiliation over honor during India’s global tech showcase. ‘Political rights exist, but not at the expense of weakening our international standing,’ he asserted.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat quipped that Gandhi’s adherents’ topless roaming epitomizes flawed leadership benchmarks. Delhi’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa decried the ‘disgraceful naked protest’ in front of international visitors, slamming Congress’s petty mindset and calling for introspection from the Gandhi lineage.
Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia depicted Congress as a horde of anti-national disruptors, scheming to defame India before AI pioneers and leaders. The BJP narrative frames this as more than dissent—it’s sabotage amid India’s ascent.
Observers note the summit’s prestige was momentarily hijacked, turning a tech triumph into a political circus. With foreign eyes on India, the BJP’s chorus demands accountability, questioning if opposition fervor justifies risking national dignity. This episode may linger, influencing perceptions of India’s political maturity on the world stage.