New Delhi, February 24. In a pointed critique, Prof. Inder Singh Thakur from Himachal Pradesh Central University has slammed the decision by some youths to protest shirtless at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Speaking exclusively to IANS, the professor emphasized that while dissent is a democratic right, it must be exercised appropriately.
‘The summit brought together CEOs, politicians, and global leaders from over 100 countries,’ Thakur noted. ‘Disrupting such a prestigious event with undignified protests was utterly misguided. Jantar Mantar exists precisely for demonstrations like these.’
Echoing this sentiment, Prof. Diwan Singh Rawat, Vice-Chancellor of Kumaun University in Nainital, hailed the event as a landmark for India’s AI prowess. ‘AI is revolutionizing fields like drug discovery, slashing timelines from 15-18 years to just 5-6 years,’ he explained. Rawat highlighted India’s strides in digital infrastructure, highway construction, and digital payments, crediting government initiatives for fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem that propels AI innovation.
The controversy stemmed from Youth Congress activists’ disruptive antics, which drew sharp rebuke from Dr. Binay Kumar Singh, Director of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation. ‘This was a platform for national progress, not political theater,’ Singh asserted. He urged Rahul Gandhi to unequivocally condemn the incident, warning that such spectacles tarnish India’s international image and undermine constructive dialogue.
As India positions itself as a global AI leader, incidents like these raise questions about balancing activism with decorum. Experts agree: meaningful protest strengthens democracy, but ill-timed disruptions only weaken it.