Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has publicly backed the Indian Youth Congress after its national president, Uday Bhanu Chib, was arrested in connection with last week’s protest during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
In a strongly worded message shared on social media, Gandhi described Youth Congress workers as his “Babbar Sher comrades” and defended their right to peaceful protest, calling dissent a democratic legacy deeply rooted in India’s history.
The controversy erupted at Bharat Mandapam, the venue that hosted the global AI summit from February 16 to 20. According to reports, a group of Youth Congress members entered the AI Expo Hall carrying posters and raising slogans. In a dramatic move that quickly grabbed headlines, some protesters removed their T-shirts as part of what party leaders described as a symbolic act against government policies.
Delhi Police later detained several participants. Uday Bhanu Chib was formally arrested after nearly 20 hours of questioning. A court has since remanded him to four days of police custody. Authorities have reportedly booked him under charges including criminal conspiracy, obstructing a public servant, voluntarily causing harm to a public servant, and wilful disobedience.
Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised the arrest, saying peaceful protest is every citizen’s democratic right. He accused the government of suppressing voices that question its policies and referred to the Prime Minister as a “compromised PM.” Gandhi argued that the arrest reflects “dictatorial tendencies and cowardice,” especially when youth leaders raise concerns about national interests.
At the heart of the protest lies the recently concluded India-US interim trade agreement. Gandhi claimed the deal compromises farmers’ interests, weakens the textile sector, and threatens India’s data sovereignty. According to him, the agreement could expose sensitive national data to foreign control and harm domestic industries already under pressure.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 itself marked a milestone as the first major global AI gathering hosted in the Global South. Policymakers, technology innovators, academicians, and civil society representatives from across the world attended the summit to discuss artificial intelligence governance, ethics, and global cooperation. However, the Youth Congress protest shifted attention from technological discussions to a heated political confrontation.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the arrest, saying that India’s youth are frustrated over unemployment and economic distress. He accused the central government of failing to address pressing issues and criticised what he described as an attempt to silence dissenting voices.
Meanwhile, the BJP has labelled the protest “anti-India” and disruptive to a prestigious international event. Party leaders argue that such demonstrations damage the country’s global image at a time when India is positioning itself as a major player in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The episode has now evolved into a larger political flashpoint. With national elections approaching, debates over farmers’ welfare, unemployment, trade agreements, and democratic rights are likely to intensify. For the Congress, the arrest presents an opportunity to project itself as a defender of democratic freedoms. For the ruling party, the emphasis remains on maintaining law and order during globally significant events.
As investigations continue and political rhetoric sharpens, the arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib has become more than a legal matter. It has turned into a symbol of the growing clash between dissent and authority in India’s current political landscape.