Political tempers flared after a dramatic protest disrupted India’s flagship artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi.

The controversy began during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted at Bharat Mandapam.

While the summit drew delegates from over 80 nations, domestic politics soon overshadowed the event.

On February 20, members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a shirtless protest inside the venue.

They criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that the government had compromised national interests in the proposed India-US trade framework.

Security agencies detained four protesters. Subsequently, authorities placed them in judicial custody.

A Delhi court later addressed the incident firmly. It was observed that protests must not damage national interest or India’s global standing.

Moreover, the court stressed that internationally significant platforms demand responsible conduct. It granted the accused workers five days of police custody.

Investigators, therefore, can analyse electronic devices and trace communication links. The court also directed officials to follow due procedure during interrogation.

Meanwhile, the political rhetoric intensified. Addressing a gathering in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Modi criticised the Congress sharply.

He alleged that the party, led by Rahul Gandhi, had converted a global forum into dirty and naked politics.

Furthermore, he argued that the summit symbolised India’s rising technological stature. According to him, such protests attempted to undermine national pride.

The Prime Minister emphasised that nearly 20 heads of state attended the conference. He stated that the country felt proud of hosting one of the largest AI gatherings worldwide.

However, he claimed the opposition could not accept India’s growing influence.

The episode has since triggered a broader debate. On one hand, opposition groups defend protest as a democratic expression.

On the other hand, the government maintains that global events must remain insulated from political theatrics.

As investigations continue, the incident highlights the friction between political dissent and diplomatic optics in an increasingly interconnected world.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 18, 2021

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1640118