Patna

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad on Wednesday termed the controversy involving Galgotias University at the AI Impact Summit as “unfortunate” and said it should not overshadow India’s opportunity to emerge as a global leader in artificial intelligence.

“This is undoubtedly an unfortunate incident. The AI Summit conveys the message of an unprecedented revolution in startup and technology innovation. Major nations like the US and China have already taken the lead in this area. India has a great opportunity to lead the Global South through the AI Summit,” Prasad said.

He added that the scale and participation at the summit reflected growing global confidence in India’s AI ambitions. “The way the AI Summit has attracted AI developers from around the world and the number of people who have participated, including prominent figures from many countries, make the future path look brighter,” he said.

Referring specifically to the Galgotias episode, Prasad said such incidents were “shameful” and had raised serious questions about the institution. “In light of these incidents, the strictest possible action should be taken to ensure that such mistakes are not repeated at future global conferences,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera launched a sharp attack on the government over the ‘robodog’ controversy at the summit. In a post on X, Khera alleged that the event had been reduced to a spectacle rather than serving as a genuine platform for innovation.

“‘@AshwiniVaishnaw has proved that in India, AI means ‘Ashwini is Incompetent’. As for the ‘Pradhan (Tamasha) Mantri’—every event is a Jhappi-Pappi Fest. This was supposed to be an AI Summit, a platform for innovation and exchange of ideas. BJP reduced it to a cheap China Bazaar,” Khera wrote, sharing a video criticising the government.

Responding to the row, S Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said authenticity and transparency must be strictly maintained at such platforms.

“Misinformation cannot be encouraged. Genuine work should be reflected in exhibits, and proper codes must be followed. We just don’t want controversy,” he said while commenting on Galgotias University being asked to vacate its stall at the AI Impact Expo 2026.

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The episode has sparked a wider political debate over credibility, innovation standards, and India’s global image in emerging technologies.