The episode marks the latest flashpoint in the escalating political rivalry with the BJP calling the disruption of a major international event an act of treason and the Congress defending it as an exercise of constitutional rights.
A day after members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a dramatic shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, the ruling BJP launched coordinated demonstrations across several cities, condemning the act as “shameful” and demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
The episode marks the latest flashpoint in the escalating political rivalry with the BJP calling the disruption of a major international event an act of treason and the Congress defending it as an exercise of constitutional rights.
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In Delhi, BJP leaders and workers protested near the Congress headquarters, carrying placards and raising slogans against the opposition party and Rahul Gandhi. Delhi BJP leaders Virendra Sachdeva and Manoj Tiwari described the IYC protest as an act of “treason,” alleging it had damaged India’s global image. They said the demonstration had embarrassed citizens who take pride in the country’s international standing.
Similar protests were reported from other cities. In Jammu, BJP Yuva Morcha members gathered to demand an apology from Gandhi, accusing the Congress of hurting national honour and dignity. In Surat, party workers condemned what they described as a deliberate disruption of a high-profile global summit. In Mumbai, BJP workers waved black flags at Gandhi and accused him of consistently opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives and undermining the country’s reputation abroad.
The controversy began on Friday, when a group of IYC cadres staged the protest inside the exhibition hall at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit. The protestors walked shirtless while holding T-shirts bearing slogans critical of the government and the proposed India-US trade deal. The Congress maintained that the demonstration was a peaceful expression of dissent.
Senior BJP leaders sharply criticised the move. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the protest was part of a pattern of actions timed to coincide with significant international events hosted by India. Referring to previous occasions, including high-level diplomatic visits and global summits, he alleged that the Congress had repeatedly attempted to embarrass the country on the world stage. He argued that such actions reflected a mindset aimed at creating disruption and damaging India’s democratic image.
BJP National Spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam echoed these sentiments, calling the protest “heinous” and claiming it had outraged citizens across the country. He also asserted that even some partners within the broader opposition alliance had distanced themselves from the incident. According to him, continued support for such protests would further erode Rahul Gandhi’s credibility among the public.
The Congress defended the protest as a legitimate and peaceful form of political expression. Party leaders argued that dissent is intrinsic to a democracy and that raising concerns about government policies at public forums is within their constitutional rights.
