A dramatic protest by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi has triggered a major political and security controversy after activists allegedly altered their protest strategy at the last minute to bypass event restrictions.
According to government sources, a group of Youth Congress workers entered the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam using valid registrations and QR-code entry passes, similar to thousands of other attendees over the five-day event. Once inside, several protesters removed their shirts, waved printed t-shirts carrying protest slogans, and shouted messages criticising the India-US tariff agreement and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Authorities described the incident as a coordinated disruption. Four individuals — Krishna Hari (National Secretary), Narasimha Yadav (National Coordinator), and office-bearers Kundan Yadav and Ajay Kumar — have been arrested, while police said additional participants are being identified using facial recognition technology. Officials added that those detained would be produced before court and could face additional charges, including allegations of assaulting police personnel during the intervention.
Investigators believe the protest involved prior planning. Sources said the group initially intended to carry black umbrellas with printed protest stickers into the venue. However, after realising umbrellas would be confiscated during security checks, the protesters reportedly switched tactics and pasted the printed messages onto t-shirts instead. Police are now examining where the protest materials were printed and whether a larger conspiracy was involved.
A short video shared by the Youth Congress on social media showed the protest inside the summit venue, accompanied by a message claiming that protest was necessary when “corporate interests appear to trump national interests.” The organisation’s national president later stated that the demonstration reflected wider anger among unemployed youth and criticism of the government’s economic policies.
The protest comes amid political debate over the India-US tariff arrangement announced under former US President Donald Trump, which opposition parties argue could require significant tariff reductions by India. Under the agreement, the United States is expected to impose reciprocal tariffs of around 18 percent on certain Indian exports, including textiles, footwear, chemicals, plastics, and selected machinery products.
Leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party strongly criticised the protest, calling it an attempt to embarrass the country during an international technology event. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal accused opposition leaders of damaging India’s global image, while Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav described the disruption as “absolute shamelessness.”
The incident has reignited political tensions between the ruling party and the Indian National Congress, with both sides trading accusations over nationalism, economic policy, and political conduct at international forums. Authorities continue to investigate the security breach and are expected to review event protocols to prevent similar incidents in future high-profile gatherings.
