Youth Congress shirtless chaos at AI Summit: Delhi Police seizes car, detains protester in crackdown

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a highly visible and controversial shirtless protest, drawing significant attention and a strong police response. During the protest, participants removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts emblazoned with slogans critical of the government and an interim India-US trade deal. This act prompted Delhi Police to conduct raids, seize a vehicle carrying anti-Prime Minister materials, and detain several protesters, including the National President of the IYC, Uday Bhanu Chib. Additional legal provisions were invoked against the protesters, citing charges related to promoting enmity and issues prejudicial to national integration.

The demonstration sparked widespread criticism from various quarters, including over 270 retired bureaucrats, judges, and armed forces veterans who condemned the protest as a betrayal of national dignity, especially given the international stature of the summit. Furthermore, 160 senior academicians described the protest as “profoundly regrettable and ill-conceived,” emphasizing that the summit represented a defining moment showcasing India as a serious and sovereign technological power in the evolving Fourth Industrial Revolution. This protest has stirred a debate about the balance between democratic dissent and the imperative to uphold national prestige, particularly at globally significant AI events. It also highlights the sensitive nature of political activism intersecting with major international summits in the burgeoning AI landscape.