Members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a dramatic shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam, raising slogans against the Prime Minister. The demonstration led to an FIR and multiple detentions.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, February 24, 2026: Days after high-voltage scenes unfolded at the AI Summit in the national capital, the Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with the protest at the venue. Sources said he is likely to be produced before a court later in the day.
Police officials are questioning Chib as part of their investigation into the case registered over the demonstration. Sources added that investigators believe he has not been fully cooperating with the probe.
Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil claimed that Chib was detained around 4:30 am and had remained in custody for nearly 20 hours.
The arrest triggered sharp political reactions. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari confirmed the development and criticised the Congress, accusing it of running an “anti-India” and “anti-growth” campaign.
STORY | Shirtless protest at AI Summit: Delhi Police arrests Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib
Delhi Police has arrested Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib in connection with the shirtless protest staged by a group of IYC members at the AI Impact Summit here… pic.twitter.com/rMSG7Zk0Y3
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 24, 2026
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In a post on X, Bhandari said Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib had been arrested after prolonged questioning over what he described as an “anti-India protest” at the AI Summit. He also demanded accountability from senior Congress leadership.
The controversy stems from a dramatic protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the Bharat Mandapam venue during the AI Impact India Summit. Several workers removed their shirts and raised slogans reading “Compromised PM” as a mark of dissent.
In a statement, the Youth Congress said the demonstration was aimed at protesting what it called a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country” at the summit.
Following the incident, the Delhi Police registered an FIR and detained multiple Youth Congress leaders in connection with the protest.
Meanwhile, BJP workers staged counter-protests in several states, demanding that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi apologise over the disruption at the summit.
Background
The AI Impact India Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, brought together policymakers, global technology leaders, and industry stakeholders to discuss India’s artificial intelligence roadmap, digital governance, and emerging tech investments. The event has been projected by the government as a key platform to position India as a global AI innovation hub.
In recent months, however, opposition parties have accused the government of using high-profile global events to project a curated image while sidestepping domestic concerns such as unemployment, data privacy, and institutional accountability. The Youth Congress protest was framed by party leaders as part of a broader campaign to question the government’s policies and international positioning.
