A Delhi court has ordered four Youth Congress members to five days of police custody after their arrest for staging a shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit. The accused individuals, namely Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav, were brought before the Patiala House Court following the disruption caused at the summit venue. The investigating agency argued for custodial interrogation to uncover a potential larger conspiracy behind the protest and to identify other involved individuals.
The defence team opposed the remand request, advocating for bail for the accused on grounds of their peaceful protest participation and deeming continued detention unnecessary. Despite these arguments, the Patiala House Court decided to remand all four accused to police custody for five days and denied their bail pleas. The arrests stemmed from a protest by Youth Congress workers during the India AI Impact Summit, prompting strong political reactions.
The incident gained attention when some protesters reportedly engaged in disruptive behavior at the event attended by political figures, industry representatives, and technology experts. Several Youth Congress members removed their shirts, chanted slogans, and posed topless in front of an India AI Summit board, attempting to cause a disturbance. Security personnel swiftly intervened, removing the protesters from the venue, with investigations ongoing into the matter.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders criticized the protest as inappropriate, accusing the Congress party of trying to disrupt a national event showcasing India’s technological advancements. In response, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress stated that the protest aimed to raise concerns about prioritizing corporate interests over national welfare and criticized the government’s foreign policy stance. The group also connected the protest to economic issues like inflation and unemployment, expressing growing frustration among the youth.
