New Delhi: Opposition leaders and Congress allies on Saturday criticized the Indian Youth Congress (IYC)’s “semi-nude” protest at the AI Impact Summit, terming the act “inappropriate” and saying it brought shame to India on the international platform.Samajwadi Party Chairman speaks to reporters Akhilesh Yadav Said, “…we may have internal divisions, but Congress’s approach on a global platform is inappropriate.”“They should avoid doing things that would bring shame to our country in front of foreign representatives and world representatives…” he added.Around 10 IYC workers were detained after briefly raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Exhibition Hall 1 on Friday. It was held at the Bharat Mandapam during the summit on the 5th, triggering a political storm.Protesters entered the venue wearing or holding white T-shirts with images of Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump, and slogans such as “India-US Trade Agreement”, “Epstein Files” and “The Prime Minister is Damaged”, triggering heated exchanges with participants.
‘They put us all to shame’
YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote on“Regardless of our political differences, we should always show the face of unity to the world,” he added.
‘Totally inappropriate and reprehensible’
The same sentiment was echoed by Central Bank of the Philippines Chairman Mayawati, who said that at a major international event like the AI Impact Summit, “where half-naked people – most of whom are said to be young members of Congress – any expression of anger through half-nakedness is completely inappropriate and should be condemned.”She posted on
“There could have been a better way”
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that while there may have been dissatisfaction, the manner of protest could have been better.“I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again today: dissatisfaction exists and no one can deny it. Whether the deal was unclear or there were problems with the Epstein documents, there could have been better ways to resolve these issues. In my opinion, the Youth Congress took action but personally any movement needs to be handled responsibly,” he said.“Similar things have been done by members of the BJP in the past, but it didn’t suit anyone. The point is, there was dissatisfaction, people, especially a section of farmers, were worried, and there could have been a better choice of how and where those concerns were expressed,” he added.The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday lashed out at the Congress and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi over the topless protests, calling them a “despicable act”.
BJP calls Cong “topless, brainless and shameless”
BJP MP Sambit Patra said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are traitors at the highest level. The biggest traitors of the country. Wherever the country progresses, wherever there is happiness, they will destroy it. These are traitors… I have only three words for the Congress: topless, brainless, shameless.”“Today, they are bare-chested and brainless. Congress does not have enough intelligence to think that this AI summit that is happening is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit for the entire world,” he added.The Indian Youth Congress later defended its action in a statement, saying its workers were protesting against a “compromising prime minister who betrayed the nation’s identity at the AI Summit.”“That is why the fearless workers of the Indian Youth Congress came to the Bharat Mandapam… so that a voice could be raised against the ‘compromising Prime Minister’, the Modi government being forced to answer for the compromises made on the honor of the country!” it added.
 over its "semi-nude" protest at the AI Impact.){kind=link}