New Delhi erupted in political controversy on February 20 as Youth Congress activists staged a dramatic protest at the India AI Impact Summit in Pragati Maidan. Shedding their shirts in a bold display of dissent, the protesters drew sharp condemnation from Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who accused the Congress party of arrogance and frustration.
Goyal took to X, formerly Twitter, to lambast Rahul Gandhi and his party. ‘This is Congress’s arrogance and frustration on display,’ he wrote. ‘Rahul Gandhi, your idea of targeting the government is to humiliate India. While you spread lies about recent trade deals to halt India’s progress, your followers march shirtless at a prestigious AI summit, shaming 1.4 billion Indians before the world.’
The minister highlighted the irony: India hosting a global event showcasing its technological prowess, only for opposition antics to undermine it. He argued that such disruptions reveal Congress’s lack of vision for the nation’s future.
Echoing Goyal, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu called it a national embarrassment. ‘India is demonstrating its innovation and leadership on the global stage, yet Congress chooses obstruction over respect,’ Bittu posted. He criticized the topless protest as an attempt to tarnish India’s image amid its rise as a tech powerhouse.
Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was equally scathing, noting that Rahul Gandhi’s followers’ shirtless antics set a poor leadership standard. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa labeled it a ‘naked dance’ in front of foreign dignitaries, questioning the Gandhi family’s descent into such low tactics.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia branded Congress as anti-India thugs, accusing them of a deliberate plot to embarrass the nation before global leaders and tech giants. As India positions itself as an AI leader, this incident underscores deepening political divides, with the ruling party framing opposition actions as sabotage rather than legitimate dissent.
The summit, meant to highlight India’s AI ambitions, now serves as a flashpoint in the ongoing BJP-Congress rivalry. Critics argue political protests have their place, but not at the cost of national prestige on international platforms. The episode raises questions about decorum in democracy and the lengths parties will go to score political points.