Congress Protests at India AI Summit, Youth Workers Raise Slogans

February 20, 2026

New Delhi: Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and other Congress party workers staged a protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam, raising slogans and creating a ruckus amid the high-profile global event.

The protesters expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s stance on various issues, linking them to broader political concerns, and called for attention to matters they say are being overlooked.

Delhi: Indian Youth Congress protested at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit 2026

(Source: IYC Media Department) pic.twitter.com/xx9w6DQcst

— IANS (@ians_india) February 20, 2026

 Slogans, Detentions and Police Response

Youth Congress activists reportedly raised loud slogans against the government during the summit proceedings, leading to some scene disruption and prompting police intervention. Several protesters were taken into custody by Delhi Police to restore order at the venue.

Officials at the summit-maintained security protocols and continued with scheduled sessions, ensuring that the protest was contained without affecting the overall event agenda.

 Opposition’s Criticism of Summit Narrative

The protest occurs against a backdrop of recent opposition criticism of the AI summit’s organization and government messaging. Some leaders from Congress and allied parties have publicly described aspects of the event as mismanaged or symbolic rather than substantive, though others within the party have also acknowledged positive elements of the summit.

Meanwhile, senior Congress MPs like Shashi Tharoor have offered praise for the summit’s execution and global participation, underlining divergent views within the party about the event.