AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge turned heads by unequivocally supporting the Youth Congress’s audacious shirtless demonstration at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. From Bengaluru, he branded the protest a noble pursuit of national welfare and ripped into authorities for what he called an authoritarian crackdown via arrests.
The activists’ bold move amid the high-profile AI event was aimed squarely at exposing youth joblessness and farmer woes. ‘They acted thoughtfully in India’s interest,’ Kharge told journalists, decrying the shift to police and judicial custody as unjust.
Delving into policy critiques, Kharge blasted central decisions influenced by US-India ties under Trump. He highlighted how such deals, coupled with shifts like halting Russian oil, inflict pain on farmers already reeling from inequities. ‘These aren’t farmer-friendly; they’re predatory,’ he declared.
Kharge voiced alarm at bail rejections, seeing them as threats to free expression. Brushing off accusations of shaming India internationally, he flipped the script: BJP stalwarts protested vociferously during the Commonwealth Games without backlash. Why the double standard?
Praising the protesters’ focus on core issues, Kharge accused PM Modi of subservience to foreign leaders at the nation’s expense. As debates rage, this defense from Kharge positions Congress as champions of the marginalized, fueling calls for policy reversals amid economic discontent.