New Delhi, Feb 24 (NationPress) The Delhi Police apprehended Uday Bhanu Chib, the National President of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), on Tuesday, in relation to the shirtless protest that took place at Bharat Mandapam during the concluding day of the India AI Impact Summit.

Chib was detained in the early hours following extensive questioning regarding the incident. His arrest came after approximately 15 hours of interrogation at the Tilak Marg police station. Law enforcement sources indicated that Chib allegedly failed to cooperate during the questioning and attempted to mislead the investigators. Officials assert that they possess substantial evidence against him.

Post-arrest, he was taken to the Patiala House Court.

In response to the arrest, senior Congress figure Bhupesh Baghel voiced criticism over the actions taken against Chib and other party members. On social media platform X, Baghel vehemently denounced what he termed as the “unlawful arrest” of Uday Bhanu Chib and several other youth members, emphasizing that in a democratic society, the right to peacefully express dissent is not a crime, but a fundamental right.

"I firmly denounce the unlawful arrest of IYC National President Bhai Uday Bhanu Chib ji and other young comrades by the Delhi Police. The “dictatorial” regime is forgetting that in a democracy, voicing concerns and protesting by the youth is not a crime, but a powerful tool of democracy. Our Youth Congress members, without any violence or provocation, peacefully highlighted the compromises made by the Prime Minister and the unheard struggles of the youth," he stated.

Baghel further described the protest as a "brave and democratic action".

"This was a valiant, legitimate, and democratic endeavor, which the government is now attempting to suppress through police oppression. This action is not only unlawful but also a direct affront to freedom of expression and democracy. We demand the immediate release of all arrested IYC members, including Uday Bhanu Chib ji, and the withdrawal of all false charges against them, while calling for an end to such repressive measures. We shall fight and triumph," Baghel asserted.

IYC members had entered the AI Impact Summit venue on Friday wearing or carrying T-shirts that bore slogans critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the India-US trade agreement. The Delhi Police later revealed that the protesters had registered for the summit online, gaining entry while concealing their T-shirts displaying anti-Prime Minister messages under jackets or sweaters.

This incident sparked a political clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The BJP labeled the protest a “disgraceful act” aimed at damaging India's reputation on the international front, while the IYC defended it as a “peaceful” demonstration aimed at protecting national interests.

Subsequent to the protest, Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a video message on X, stating that the IYC "exposed the posters" and drew the nation's attention to the "cracks in the walls".

"Through this peaceful protest, the Indian Youth Congress has demonstrated the frustration among the youth at this AI Summit. There has been considerable uproar since then. A 'compromised' prime minister's 'incentivized' media has begun saying that the protest occurred at the 'inappropriate location' and that it has brought disgrace to the country; they argue that the protest should not have taken place there," he explained.