Former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh criticized the Youth Congress’s shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, calling it shameful and demanding stricter police action. The protest, which took place on February 20 at Bharat Mandapam during the summit, involved Youth Congress members displaying anti-government slogans on inner T-shirts, disrupting the event focused on showcasing India’s advancements in artificial intelligence. Singh emphasized the inappropriateness of such actions at a global forum aimed at enhancing India’s international image, highlighting the significant investments made for organizing such events.
Former DGP Arvind Kumar Jain also condemned the protest, labeling it a planned operation that should have been prevented given the heavy security deployment at the event. He questioned the initial arrests made in light of the large security presence and stressed that while dissent can be expressed through various means, disrupting a major international event with global leaders in attendance is unacceptable. Jain underscored the negative impact such actions have on India’s reputation, especially amid announcements of major investments in data centers and AI.
Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid criticized the protest as damaging to the country’s image, stating that while criticizing the government is part of freedom of speech, such actions on an international platform suggest a conspiracy against India. Vaid highlighted the potential of the AI Summit to create employment opportunities through technology adoption and urged restraint to prevent false impressions globally. He emphasized the importance of constructive engagement over actions that harm national dignity.
The controversy surrounding the protest escalated with the arrest of Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib, who was remanded to four-day police custody by a Patiala House court on February 24. Delhi Police have made multiple arrests in the case, including adding rioting charges, describing the incident as a deep conspiracy to defame India internationally. The disruption at the summit, held from February 16-20, has sparked a debate on protest rights versus national prestige, with high-profile participation focusing on responsible AI for global progress.
