New Delhi, Feb 21 (NationPress) Following the Indian Youth Congress's dramatic shirtless protest during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where they posted a photo of Mahatma Gandhi on social platforms, leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc expressed their disapproval. They raised concerns regarding the nation's image on global stages.

Allied parties of the Congress, such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), voiced their reservations about the protest's execution, suggesting there are more suitable avenues to express grievances.

According to Congress allies, the protest's venue was inappropriate; they argued that holding demonstrations at international events negatively impacts the nation’s global reputation. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha remarked to IANS, "While grievances are undeniable, including issues with Epstein Files, there were better methods to voice these concerns."

He added, "The Youth Congress took action, but any movement should be approached responsibly. Similar actions have been taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but that doesn’t justify them for anyone. The reality is grievances persist, particularly among farmers, and there were more appropriate ways to express these issues."

In response to the Youth Congress protest against the AI Summit, SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand told IANS, "While the protest topic was valid, the venue was not suitable. In a democratic nation, it’s crucial to address these concerns at the right place and time."

"The Congress workers' protest should not have occurred at that event venue. It was inappropriate," he concluded.

This incident followed the Youth Congress members' protest at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam during the prominent India AI Impact Summit, where they shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government regarding alleged issues of "unemployment, inflation, and the reported India-US trade agreement."

The protest evoked strong backlash from leaders of the BJP-led NDA, accusing Congress of attempting to "tarnish" the nation’s image at an international gathering attended by global delegates.

In light of the criticism, the Youth Congress took to X, aiming to justify their actions. The post stated, "Hum Gandhiji ke Vanshaj hai, Shirtless hi sahi (We are descendants of Gandhiji, even if we are shirtless)." This message included a photo of Mahatma Gandhi with the label 'Shirtless Congressi.'

The BJP vehemently opposed this social media post, deeming it inappropriate to justify such actions by invoking the Father of the Nation.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma commented, "This was not a shirtless protest, but a shameless protest. If Congress believed there were discrepancies in a significant process, cornering a Minister or concerned official would have been more understandable. However, staging such a protest where global leaders are present is not appropriate."

"This should never have occurred. Engaging in politics that places the country in such a light is not right. Not every venue is suitable for political actions," he added.

BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh drew comparisons between this event and protests involving former JNU student Umar Khalid, who was accused in the 2020 Delhi riots. Singh stated, "A few years back, Umar Khalid staged a similar protest at a time chosen deliberately when then US President Donald Trump was visiting India. This was orchestrated to send a message to the world and damage India's reputation."

He continued, "What Rahul Gandhi orchestrated today mirrors what Umar Khalid did. By allowing his party workers to protest while heads of state from 20 nations and representatives from around 100 countries were in Delhi, it was a calculated maneuver. This was not a protest; it was an attempt to harm the country’s image."

BJP National Spokesperson Rohan Gupta also condemned the comparison with Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking to IANS, he remarked, "It’s regrettable that Congress is equating this indecent protest with such a prominent figure. Conducting such actions on an international platform is unacceptable. Did Congress not recognize this? The youth wing cannot act without directives from the high command. They should apologize instead of offering baseless justifications."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha stated, "The naked reality of Congress's mentality is being revealed to the nation. They align with an anti-national mindset, unwilling to acknowledge the nation's rising pride and development."

"This is embarrassing for Rahul Gandhi. While the Prime Minister is striving to transform India into a 'Viksit Bharat,' you are attempting to defame it," he added.