Delhi Police arrested Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national president Uday Bhanu Chib on February 24 in connection with “shirtless protest” by IYC members at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
The capital witnessed fresh political turbulence as Delhi Police took Uday Bhanu Chib, national president of the Indian Youth Congress, into custody on Tuesday morning, linking him to a controversial protest inside the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam last Friday.
Authorities said Chib’s arrest follows questioning that lasted nearly 15–20 hours and marked the latest in a series of detentions tied to the demonstration, which saw several youth leaders remove their shirts to display slogan-printed T-shirts and chant against government policies.
Police officials have charged Chib under provisions that include criminal conspiracy, obstruction of public servants, and disobedience of lawful orders, reflecting what they say was a coordinated attempt to disrupt a major international summit attended by global tech leaders and foreign dignitaries.
In announcing the arrest, a senior police officer said the investigation is ongoing and that evidence indicates organisational involvement in planning the protest.
The number of arrests linked to the protest has risen steadily. Initially, four Youth Congress workers were detained at the scene; since then, additional leaders have been arrested in Madhya Pradesh, bringing the total to at least seven before Chib’s detention. Security sources said several of those held were national and regional office-bearers of the IYC. All have been or will be produced before appropriate courts.
What Happened at the Summit – In Context
On 20 February, members of the Youth Congress entered the Bharat Mandapam venue where the five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026 was underway holding QR-coded tickets that granted access to general attendees.
Once inside a hall hosting international guests, some participants reportedly removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts with slogans critical of the central government and recent policy decisions, including a claimed Turkey-US trade deal and slogans alleging the prime minister was “compromised”.
Security personnel quickly intervened, removed the protesters from the hall and handed them to the Delhi Police. The police registered an FIR under multiple sections including criminal conspiracy, assault on a public servant, causing hurt to public servants, and unlawful assembly.
The summit itself is an international gathering bringing together more than 100 countries’ representatives, business leaders, and technology experts to discuss artificial intelligence governance and impact a high-visibility event that Indian authorities view as central to the country’s global tech profile.
Delhi Police has also told the court that evidence suggests the protest was inspired by recent Gen Z-led movements abroad and that investigators are exploring the funding and coordination behind the demonstration.
Political Reactions Intensify
The fallout has been swift and sharply political.
- The Indian Youth Congress and Congress leadership have labelled Chib’s arrest as an attempt to stifle democratic dissent. In statements, the party’s youth wing insisted their protest was peaceful, symbolic, and aimed at spotlighting what they call economic and governance failures. “Peaceful protest is our right in a democracy,” an IYC spokesperson said.
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and allied voices condemned the protest as irresponsible and damaging to India’s international standing. BJP spokespersons described the actions as “anti-national” and argued that publicly staged disruptions at an event of global importance were inappropriate. One senior party source said such tactics undermine India’s image at a stage when it seeks to promote technological leadership.
- Across social media, commentators and civil society voices offered contrasting views: some criticised the protest for being poorly timed and ill-judged given the international audience; others defended it as legitimate youth activism.
- A Delhi metropolitan court has described the shirtless protest as exceeding the boundaries of legitimate dissent and constituting an assault on public order that could imperil India’s diplomatic image language that underpins the legal position being taken by police and prosecution.
Broader Context: Protests, Policy and Public Sentiment
India’s democratic fabric has a long history of street demonstrations and political protest. The Youth Congress’s choice of theatre an AI summit attracting global figures such as technology CEOs and state leaders has, however, fuelled debate about the methods and relevance of political expression in high-security, international forums.
Analysts say the protest was strategically aimed at highlighting discontent among youth around unemployment, alleged policy sell-outs in trade deals, and governance issues, though critics argue that conflating global technological dialogue with domestic political critique dilutes both.
The incident also points to the increasingly intricate intersection of politics, international engagement, and youth mobilisation in India’s large democracy and prompts broader questions about how dissent is expressed and managed at events designed to shape the country’s future economic and technological trajectory.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
In a democracy, the right to protest peacefully is fundamental. But civic action that risks impinging on the rights, safety, and dignity of others especially during globally significant events deserves careful reflection.
Orderly dialogue and well-timed expression of dissent not only honour democratic values but also ensure that legitimate concerns are heard without undermining broader national interests.
While authorities must uphold public order, they should also protect citizens’ rights to raise issues that matter to them. At the same time, political actors must choose platforms thoughtfully, ensuring that their messages enhance, rather than detract from, civic trust and constructive discourse.
