Four members of the Indian Youth Congress were arrested on Friday after staging a shirtless protest inside Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where the AI Impact Summit 2026 is currently underway.
The incident took place around 12:30 pm on the fifth day of the summit. According to police, the protesters had registered online and entered the venue through QR code scanning like other attendees. Once inside near Hall 5, they allegedly removed their sweaters and jackets to reveal T-shirts carrying protest messages and began raising slogans against the Narendra Modi-led government.
Additional CP Devesh Kumar Mahla said the group attempted to conceal their protest material while entering the venue. “They were wearing sweaters and jackets on top and a T-shirt underneath. Near Hall 5, they removed their sweaters and jackets and protested while waving their T-shirts. We are taking appropriate legal action,” he told ANI.
Police identified the detainees as Krishna Hari, 35, National Secretary of the organisation and a resident of Bihar; Kundan Yadav; Ajay Kumar; and Narasimha Yadav, National Coordinator of the outfit.
FIR Filed, ‘Planned Protest’ Angle Probed
Delhi Police sources said a First Information Report (FIR) is being registered under relevant sections, and investigators are examining whether the demonstration was premeditated.
According to top police sources, the protesters had allegedly hidden the printed T-shirts inside their jackets to evade security checks. During questioning, they reportedly told police that there had initially been a plan to stage a demonstration using black umbrellas, but the idea was dropped over fears of being intercepted. Police are also probing where the T-shirts were printed.
Youth Congress Reacts
In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against what it termed a “compromised Prime Minister” at the summit.
Uday Bhanu Chib, National President of the organisation, defended the protest and said party workers would not be intimidated. He added that they would continue to raise issues concerning the youth and stand by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Attendees Criticise Disruption
The protest occurred as hundreds of delegates from India and abroad gathered for the AI Impact Summit 2026, which began on February 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the event on Thursday, calling for stronger safeguards and a more human-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence.
Some attendees criticised the protest, saying it was inappropriate for an international forum. Eyewitnesses described the brief sloganeering as disruptive and said such demonstrations could cast the country in a poor light during a global event.
Police said the situation was quickly brought under control and the programme continued without further disturbance.
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