New Delhi witnessed a heated political clash during the India AI Impact Summit as Youth Congress protesters disrupted proceedings, drawing sharp rebukes from ruling party leaders. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha led the charge, declaring that the Congress has strayed far from Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. ‘This is no longer Gandhi’s Congress,’ he asserted. ‘It has become a party influenced by foreign mindsets, devoid of love for the nation and harboring disdain for nationalism.’
The summit, attended by global leaders, dignitaries from multiple countries, and national media, aimed to showcase India’s advancements in artificial intelligence. Instead, Youth Congress activists staged protests that Bihar leaders condemned as an attempt to tarnish the country’s image on an international stage.
Bihar Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal questioned the Congress leadership’s direction, noting that senior party figures are distancing themselves from Rahul Gandhi. ‘Many claim to be Nehruvians or Indira loyalists, but not Gandhian in Rahul’s mold,’ he told reporters. Jaiswal accused Rahul of fostering an anti-national ideology, especially as experienced leaders pull away.
Minister Sanjay Singh highlighted the embarrassment caused, with international presidents and delegates present. ‘Presenting Bihar and India in such poor light was utterly inappropriate,’ he said. Fellow minister Raj Bhushan Choudhary raised alarms about outsiders settling in India, posing risks to national security while exploiting resources.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad called the protests a calculated strategy that backfired, damaging Congress’s reputation. BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh labeled it treasonous, alleging Youth Congress followed a ‘foreign toolkit’ to undermine India’s rising global stature amid worldwide praise for the AI summit.
BJP spokesperson RP Singh drew parallels to Umar Khalid’s CAA protests during Donald Trump’s Delhi visit, accusing Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly orchestrating efforts to defame India internationally. ‘This was a premeditated plot to shame the nation,’ Singh charged, underscoring a pattern of such behavior.
The exchanges underscore deepening political divides, with BJP and allies portraying Congress as anti-national, while the opposition’s actions at the summit fuel ongoing narratives of discord. As India positions itself as an AI powerhouse, such incidents risk overshadowing technological triumphs with partisan strife.