Himanta slams Congress over protest at India AI Summit; 10 detained

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 20, launched a sharp attack on the Congress after members of its youth wing allegedly staged a shirtless protest at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, calling it an attempt to disrupt a global platform showcasing India’s technological ambitions.

In a post on X, Sarma accused the opposition of politicising a global technology event and said every milestone of national progress was being met with “reflexive cynicism”. He alleged that disruptive tactics were being deployed to create controversy around initiatives that project India’s global standing in emerging technologies.

The Congress found itself at the centre of a political storm after Youth Congress members allegedly raised slogans and removed their shirts during the summit to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the proposed India–US trade deal, which the party claims compromises India’s sovereignty.

Police said around 10 people were detained following the brief disruption at the high-profile event.

The controversy intensified after an old photograph surfaced on social media showing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi with Narsimha Yadav during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. BJP leaders identified Yadav as one of the main organisers of Friday’s protest.

Several BJP leaders criticised the protest, terming it inappropriate at an international forum. BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged that the protest was planned at Gandhi’s residence in the presence of senior Congress leaders. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the act as “treason” and accused the Congress of tarnishing India’s global image.

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju also criticised the manner of protest, saying a global summit was not the appropriate platform for political sloganeering. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said leadership sets the standard for party workers’ conduct.

BJP IT department head Amit Malviya and party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of deliberately attempting to embarrass the country at an international event and demanded an apology from the party leadership.