Controversy continued to trail the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Friday after a group of Youth Congress workers staged a brief protest inside Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. The demonstrators removed their T-shirts and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi before security personnel escorted them out of the venue.
The disruption came on a day when several top global CEOs and industry leaders were present at the summit, drawing sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused the Congress of attempting to embarrass India on an international platform.
Protest inside venue
According to police sources, around 10 individuals claiming to be members of the Indian Youth Congress entered the venue using QR-coded entry passes. The protest took place inside Hall No. 5 and lasted only a few minutes but caused visible commotion among attendees.
The protesters wore or carried white T-shirts bearing images of Prime Minister Modi and former US President Donald Trump, along with slogans referencing the India-US trade deal and other political issues. Some attendees were seen confronting the protesters, asking security to intervene.
Delhi Police said four to five people were taken into custody and shifted to Tilak Marg police station for questioning. Officials added that legal action would follow and security checks at the venue would be tightened.
Leaders named
Those reportedly involved included Youth Congress functionaries such as Krishna Hari (National Secretary), Bihar State Secretary Kundan Yadav, UP State Vice President Ajay Kumar and National Coordinator Narasimha Yadav.
Youth Congress defends protest
Indian Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib defended the demonstration, saying it reflected the anger of unemployed youth. He alleged that the government’s trade engagement with the US would harm Indian farmers and said peaceful protest is a democratic right.
“Our members raised slogans because young people feel the Prime Minister is compromised. We have the right to protest peacefully in a democracy,” he said.
BJP hits back
BJP leaders strongly condemned the protest. Amit Malviya, head of the party’s IT cell, termed the incident a “national shame,” saying the disruption at a major global summit was aimed at tarnishing India’s image.
Several Union ministers and BJP MPs also criticised the protest, alleging it was politically motivated and inappropriate for an international event showcasing India’s technological ambitions.
Some leaders went further, claiming the protest was orchestrated at a senior level within the Congress, an allegation the opposition has not responded to directly.
Reactions at summit
Visitors at Bharat Mandapam expressed surprise over the incident. One attendee said the protest was “misplaced” given the global nature of the summit. A student participant noted that entry required prior online registration and QR-coded passes linked to organisations.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held from February 16 to 20, has drawn heads of state, technology leaders, researchers and CEOs from around the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event earlier this week.
While the protest was brief and quickly contained, it has added a political layer to what was intended to be a high-profile technology summit.