Congress HQ UP Backs Controversial AI Summit Protest Poster

February 22, 2026

At the Indian National Congress headquarters in Uttar Pradesh, a poster supporting the youth wing’s controversial ‘shirtless’ protest at the India AI Impact Summit surfaced on Saturday, drawing sharp criticism from rival political circles. The display at the party office appears to back the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists who staged the demonstrative protest inside the global event venue in New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam earlier this week.

Background: Shirtless Protest at AI Summit

On February 20, 2026, several Youth Congress members entered an exhibition hall during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi and staged a shirtless protest, waving or holding white T-shirts printed with slogans targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the India–US trade deal and alleged compromises in governance. Police detained and arrested a number of activists as the demonstration caused a political uproar.

Poster and Message at UP Congress Office

The poster displayed at the Congress office reportedly endorses the youth protest’s stance, portraying it as a legitimate expression of discontent over issues such as unemployment, inflation and perceived compromises in national policy. The move has been interpreted by critics as the party endorsing confrontational tactics at a high-profile international event hosted in India. (Based on IANS report context)

BJP and Political Backlash

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have vehemently condemned both the original shirtless protest and the subsequent poster backing it. Union ministers and BJP leaders, including Kiren Rijiju, labelled the protest a “crime” and “sin against the nation,” accusing the Congress of undermining India’s international image. BJP protests erupted outside Congress offices with some cadres calling the act “treason” and asserting that it tarnished the country’s reputation at a summit showcasing technological progress.

Wider Political Reactions

Political opponents and even some non-BJP leaders criticized the spectacle, calling it inappropriate for a forum attended by global delegates. Meanwhile, Congress leadership has maintained that the youth wing’s actions reflect genuine frustrations of India’s younger population over unemployment and economic concerns framing it as democratic dissent rather than disrespect.