Delhi Police faced questions following a protest by Indian Youth Congress members at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit. The protesters targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government, citing concerns about unemployment, inflation, and the India-US trade deal. Despite inquiries, police did not offer a detailed explanation on how the demonstrators breached security measures at the event.
Youth Congress activists disrupted the summit by removing shirts, chanting slogans like “PM is compromised,” and causing disturbances near event displays. Security personnel swiftly intervened to prevent further disruptions and detained the protesters. The detained individuals were later taken to Tilak Marg Police Station for interrogation and potential legal action to address the security breach.
Officials mentioned that appropriate measures were being taken against the protesters for violating security protocols. However, it remained unclear how they managed to access the venue despite stringent security arrangements in place. Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Aggarwal criticized the protest, accusing the Congress party of tarnishing India’s reputation on the global stage.
Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the protest, asserting that it was a peaceful exercise of democratic rights. Chib highlighted the government’s alleged failure to address unemployment issues and criticized the India-US trade deal’s potential impact on farmers. He emphasized the right to peaceful protest in a democratic setup and justified the demonstration as a reflection of widespread youth frustration over economic challenges.
A summit attendee disapproved of the disruption, suggesting that differing opinions should be expressed through dialogue rather than disruptive actions. The Youth Congress later clarified that the protest aimed to spotlight concerns about prioritizing corporate interests over national welfare. They linked the demonstration to economic hardships, citing growing discontent among young people due to unemployment and inflation.
