Puducherry

Tensions flared in Puducherry on Friday as workers of the Congress and the BJP clashed during a protest organised by the BJP against the Indian Youth Congress’s shirtless demonstration at the Bharat Mandapam, where the India AI Impact Summit was held earlier this week.

The confrontation follows the arrest of four Indian Youth Congress workers in connection with the protest. A Delhi court has granted five days of police custody to the accused—Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narsingh—after the Delhi Police sought time for further interrogation to identify others who allegedly fled the spot.

According to the prosecution, the accused raised anti-national slogans and displayed messages critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit, which was attended by international leaders and dignitaries. The public prosecutor argued that custodial interrogation was essential to trace additional suspects.

Defence counsel, however, maintained that the demonstration was peaceful and carried out as part of democratic dissent. The lawyers submitted that the accused are educated office-bearers of a political party and noted that none of the alleged offences attract punishment exceeding seven years. They also argued that there was no video evidence of violence.

Meanwhile, BJP workers staged protests in several states, including Surat, Jammu and Delhi. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha held demonstrations in the national capital, alleging that the Youth Congress protest had damaged India’s image on a global platform.

READ MORE: Assam's Taekwondo wonderkid Omar Faruk fought disability

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticised the Congress, describing the act as “obscene” and “a crime against the nation.” He said that at a time when global leaders and technology experts were acknowledging India’s leadership in artificial intelligence, such incidents were deeply shameful. Rijiju also criticised Congress leaders for defending the protest instead of apologising for it.