Workers from the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha clashed briefly with police in Jaipur as they tried to march towards the state headquarters of the Indian National Congress. The clash stemmed from the BJYM workers’ objection to the Youth Congress’s shirtless protest at the AI summit in New Delhi, which had sparked significant political reactions. The Yuva Morcha had announced plans to encircle the Congress office following the incident.
Yuva Morcha members gathered at Martyrs’ Memorial in Jaipur on Saturday morning to protest against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. After the demonstration, they proceeded on foot towards the Congress office via Sansar Chandra Road. Police intervened by setting up barricades as the group neared the party headquarters, leading to a brief scuffle when some protesters tried to breach the barricades. The situation was swiftly brought under control.
During the protest, Yuva Morcha State President Shankar Gora criticized the Congress, alleging that the party was targeting the Prime Minister and working against national interests. The previous evening, Yuva Morcha workers in Jaipur had burned an effigy of Rahul Gandhi and chanted slogans against the Congress. The march on Saturday was part of the BJP youth wing’s ongoing protest campaign in response to the events at the AI Summit in New Delhi.
In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress expressed that the protest aimed to raise concerns about the prioritization of corporate interests over national interests. They also criticized the government’s foreign policy stance, alleging a weakening of the same. The group connected the protest to economic challenges such as inflation and unemployment, asserting that the youth were growing increasingly disheartened.
