Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party and an ally of the Congress party, condemned the recent “shirtless” protest at the AI Impact Summit, labeling it as an embarrassment for the nation.
Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and INDIA bloc ally, has condemned the Indian Youth Congress for carrying out a “topless” protest at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Speaking to reporters in Jhansi on Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav said that while parties may have political differences with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a protest that brings “shame” to the nation in front of foreign dignitaries should not have been carried out. On Friday, Youth Congress workers carried out a “shirtless” protest inside the summit venue, waving t-shirts with protest messages targeting ‘compromised Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
“This was wrong. We may have internal rifts, and the whole nation knows that the BJP lies. But, they should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and world representatives,” the SP chief said.
#WATCH | Jhansi, UP: On Congress Protest at AI summit, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, “… We may have internal rifts, but what Congress did on the global platform was not appropriate. They should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in… pic.twitter.com/pdT4P4n21z
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2026
‘Nepal-Style Gen Z Playbook’ Behind Congress Protest at AI Summit?
The Delhi Police has alleged that the protest staged by Indian Youth Congress was part of a “larger conspiracy” and claimed it appeared to be inspired by Nepal’s recent Gen Z-led agitation. The Delhi Police told the court on Saturday that the protest was carried out “on the lines of the Gen Z protest in Nepal,” suggesting a coordinated and pre-planned attempt to disrupt the high-profile event at Bharat Mandapam.
On Friday, Congress workers entered Hall No. 5 at Bharat Mandapam and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a brief commotion at the high-profile event. They wore or carried white T-shirts printed with images of PM Modi and United States President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India US Trade Deal,” “Epstein Files” and “PM is compromised.”
In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the Al Summit”.
Four Indian Youth Congress leaders, Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav, were arrested in connection with the demonstration. They were produced before the Patiala House Court on Saturday, where they were sent to five days of police custody.
#WATCH | Delhi: Indian Youth Congress workers staged a topless protest and chanted anti-Modi slogans at Bharat Mandapam
(Source: Indian Youth Congress) pic.twitter.com/WCZgCMwkFZ
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026