A Delhi Court has termed the ‘shirtless protest’ staged by a group of Youth Congress activists at the India AI Impact Summit in the national capital as a ‘blatant assault on public order’ and stated the incident had hurt the country’s diplomatic image.
The remarks were made by Judicial Magistrate Ravi on Saturday while sending four IYC workers to five-day police custody. The court highlighted the risk of the accused absconding, as they hailed from remote regions of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, and cited preliminary investigations suggesting external conspiracy links.
"The accused are alleged to have orchestrated a premeditated intrusion into the high-security precincts of Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit 2026, a major international event hosting global delegates and dignitaries," the court's order stated, according to a PTI report.
The court further noted that the protesters had reportedly worn provocative T-shirts with offensive slogans like "India US Trade Deal Compromised," raised incendiary chants, and obstructed public servants in the discharge of their duties. They also allegedly assaulted police personnel, causing grievous injuries, as substantiated by the medico-legal cases (MLCs) on record.
"Such conduct clearly transcends the bounds of legitimate dissent, turning into a blatant assault on public order," the judge remarked. "It not only undermines the sanctity of the event but also jeopardises the Republic’s diplomatic standing before foreign stakeholders, rendering it wholly unprotected by constitutional safeguards."
The protest, which took place inside Exhibition Hall No. 5 at Bharat Mandapam on Friday, caught guests and visitors by surprise, sparking a political firestorm. The BJP accused the opposition party of damaging India’s global reputation, with members of the Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staging protests in several cities, raising slogans against Congress.
The incident also attracted criticism from some allies of the INDIA bloc. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned the protest, stating that it brought shame to the nation. He further remarked that Congress should have refrained from such an act, especially in the presence of foreign delegates.
