A high-profile technology exhibition at the AI Impact Summit 2026 turned into a scene of political chaos on Saturday as members of the Youth Congress staged a calculated “shirtless protest.” The demonstrators marched through the stalls of global tech giants like Google, Tata, and Jio, causing a significant commotion at the Bharat Mandapam venue.
Delhi Police confirmed the protest was pre-planned, with workers registering online to secure entry QR codes. Once inside, they removed their outerwear to reveal white T-shirts bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, accompanied by provocative slogans.
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The Breach: Hall No. 5 Commotion
The protest erupted near the lobby of Hall No. 5, a critical hub for the summit’s innovation exhibition. Protesters engaged in heated exchanges with attendees as they raised slogans challenging the government’s recent diplomatic and economic decisions.
Police officials moved in quickly to whisk away the demonstrators, detaining ten individuals and taking them to the Tilak Marg police station. “No one will be allowed to breach law and order,” a senior officer stated, noting that the protesters had intentionally bypassed security by hiding their protest gear under standard winter clothing.
The Slogans: Trade Deals and Global Scandals
The T-shirts featured a mix of domestic and international grievances. The primary targets were:
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India-US Trade Deal: Protesters claimed the recently announced 18% tariff deal is detrimental to Indian farmers.
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“PM is Compromised”: A slogan defended by Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu as the voice of “unemployed and angry youths.”
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Epstein Files: Reiteration of recent allegations involving international disclosures.
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Political Crossfire: “Brainless” vs. “Voice of Youth”
The ruling BJP was swift in its condemnation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to X to state that the Congress chose “disruption over contribution” while the world was watching India’s technological leadership. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw added that the youth of India have “strongly rejected” such attempts to undermine the summit.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra was more blunt, describing the Youth Congress action with three words: “topless, brainless, and shameless.” Conversely, Uday Bhanu maintained that the protest was a legitimate democratic expression against policies that favor foreign interests over local citizens.
Reality Check
The protest was timed to maximize global visibility. Still, staging a disruption at a non-partisan technology summit often risks alienating the very “tech-savvy youth” the Congress aims to represent. Therefore, while the slogans might resonate with the party’s base, the optics of disrupting a global event at Bharat Mandapam—the site of the G20—are being leveraged by the BJP to frame the opposition as “anti-progress.”
The Loopholes
The protesters used the summit’s online registration system to gain entry. In fact, this exposes a “security loophole” in large-scale events where QR code access does not account for intent. Therefore, future summits may see more stringent “clothing-based” security screenings or background checks for attendees. Still, the increased security cordons. “shirtless” aspect of the protest serves as a strategic loophole to bypass standard “banner” bans, as the human body (or the shirt on it) becomes the billboard.
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What This Means for You
If you are attending the summit today, expect significantly First, ensure you have your physical ID alongside your QR code, as manual verification is being stepped up at Hall entrances. Then, be prepared for potential delays near the Google and Jio pavilions, where additional security details have been deployed.
Finally, realize that the India-US Trade Deal—a core subject of the protest—will remain a polarized topic. You should research the specific “Sectoral Impact” of the 18% tariff to form your own opinion on whether it truly hurts local industry. Before heading to the venue, check for any traffic diversions around the Pragati Maidan area due to ongoing police presence.
What’s Next
Following the detentions today, February 21, 2026, the Delhi Police are likely to file formal charges related to the breach of public order. Then, we expect a full-scale social media “war of narratives” between the BJP and Congress over the summit’s success versus the protesters’ claims. Finally, the AI Impact Summit will conclude its final sessions this evening under a significantly heightened security blanket.
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