BJP protests against Congress 'shirtless' demonstration at AI summit

BJP workers in several states staged protests on Saturday against the Indian Youth Congress (IYC)'s "shirtless" demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit, accusing the opposition party of tarnishing India's image on a global platform.

Condemning the act, BJP workers held demonstrations in places including Jammu, Jaipur, Patna, Bengaluru, Panchkula, and Indore. In Maharashtra's Thane, BJP activists showed black flags to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he headed to a court hearing.

Leaders from other parties also criticized the IYC protest.

The protest occurred on Friday when a group of IYC workers briefly demonstrated inside an exhibition hall at Bharat Mandapam, the summit venue in New Delhi.

BSP chief Mayawati called it "highly objectionable and condemnable," noting in a post on X that the internationally attended summit saw individuals expressing anger in a "semi-nude manner," which she described as extremely inappropriate and damaging to the country's dignity.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) condemned the Congress over the incident. YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that no one should demean India on such platforms. BRS working president K T Rama Rao said using global events for agitations portrays the country poorly internationally.