New Delhi

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday strongly criticised a protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, accusing the Congress party of lacking constructive vision and acting against national interests.

Speaking to reporters, Goyal described the demonstration — in which some Youth Congress workers removed their shirts to display slogans reading “Compromised PM” — as inappropriate and damaging to India’s image. He alleged that the opposition party’s actions reflected frustration over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rising global stature.

The minister said the protest projected what he termed an “anti-India mindset” and argued that the Congress leadership should apologise to the country’s 1.4 billion citizens. He specifically held Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi responsible for the conduct of party workers at an event that, according to the government, had drawn significant international attention and participation.

Goyal further contended that the disruption suggested the Congress was opposed to India’s technological advancement and expanding global influence. He maintained that the summit represented a milestone for innovation and that political disagreements should not overshadow such platforms.

In response, Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib defended the protest, stating that it was a democratic expression of dissent. He said the slogan was intended to reflect concerns among unemployed youth and alleged that certain trade decisions were not in India’s broader interest. Chib clarified that the organisation was not opposed to the AI Summit itself but objected to what it described as compromises affecting farmers and young people.

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Earlier in the day, Delhi Police initiated legal proceedings against some protesters. Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla said the incident occurred around 12:30 pm and that the individuals involved had registered online to attend the summit before staging their demonstration.