‘Not appropriate’: Congress-ally Akhilesh, other opposition leaders ‘ashamed’ of ‘semi-nude’ protest at AI Summit | India News

NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders and Congress allies on Saturday criticised the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) over its “semi-nude” protest at the AI Impact Summit, calling the act “inappropriate” and saying it brought shame to the country on an international platform.Speaking to reporters, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “… 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 front of foreign delegates and world representatives…” he added.These remarks come after around 10 IYC workers were detained on Friday after they briefly raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Exhibition Hall No. 5 at Bharat Mandapam during the summit, triggering a political storm.The protesters had entered the venue wearing or holding white T-shirts bearing images of PM Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India-US Trade Deal”, “Epstein Files” and “PM is compromised,” leading to heated exchanges with attendees.

‘They made us all feel ashamed’

YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote on X, “Yesterday at the AI Summit, the Youth Congress made us all feel ashamed. Where is our politics heading! No one should ever demean our country.”“Whatever our political differences may be, we should always present a united face to the world,” he added.

‘Utterly unbecoming and reprehensible’

BSP president Mayawati also expressed the same sentiment saying that at an internationally significant event like the ‘AI Impact Summit’, “any expression of anger through semi-nudity by those who did so during this event—most of whom are said to be young Congress members—is utterly unbecoming and reprehensible.”“Had this conference not been of international stature, it would have been a different matter altogether; however, such conduct during the summit is a cause for concern, meaning it would be fitting not to tarnish the dignity and image of our country,” she posted on X.

‘There could have been better way’

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said while grievances may exist, the manner of protest could have been better.“I said this yesterday, and I’m saying it again today: grievances exist, and no one can deny that. Whether it’s about the lack of clarity in a deal or issues with Epstein files, there could have been a better way to address these concerns. In my view, the Youth Congress acted, but personally, as I see it, any movement needs to be handled responsibly,” he said.“In the past, BJP members have done similar things, but that doesn’t make it right for anyone. The point is, grievances exist, people especially a section of farmers are worried, and there could have been a better option for how and where these concerns were expressed,” he added.

BJP calls Cong ‘topless, brainless, shameless’

The ruling BJP had on Friday slammed the Congress and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the shirtless protest, calling it a “despicable act.”BJP MP Sambit Patra said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party are traitors of the highest order. The nation’s biggest traitors. Wherever the country progresses, wherever happiness prevails, they will surely spoil it. These are traitors…I have only three words for Congress: topless, brainless, shameless.”“Today, they went topless, brainless. Congress doesn’t have that much wisdom that this AI summit that is going on is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit of the entire world,” he added.Later in a statement, the Indian Youth Congress defended its action, saying its workers were protesting against a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit.”“That is why the fearless workers of the Indian Youth Congress arrived at Bharat Mandapam.. so that a voice can be raised against the ‘Compromised PM’ and the Modi government is forced to answer for the compromises being made on the country’s honour!” it added.