Echoes of Gandhian defiance resonated through social media as Indian Youth Congress defended their audacious shirtless demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Posting Mahatma Gandhi’s image on X, they framed the protest as a continuation of the freedom struggle.
The organization captioned it unapologetically: ‘Gandhi’s descendants here. Shirtless works fine. Battled yesterday, battling tomorrow.’ This followed the chaotic intrusion at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, where shirtless activists rallied against government policies on jobs, inflation, and trade pacts with the US.
Onlookers watched as the group positioned themselves before the event’s prominent displays, snapping photos while raising anti-Modi slogans. Quick action by security ensured the international summit proceeded without major hitches, though not before arrests were made.
Further posts from Youth Congress challenged the narrative: ‘Power ignores, so youth revolt.’ And pointedly, ‘Protests by them: patriotism. By us: national disgrace?’
Political lines sharpened immediately. Government allies decried it as image-damaging antics at a global tech forum. Opposition leaders praised the youthful vigor as essential to democracy.
The fallout has amplified conversations around expression freedoms, political protests in tech spaces, and youth disillusionment. India’s AI push collides with real-world struggles, reminding stakeholders that innovation alone won’t silence calls for accountability.