New Delhi, February 20, 2026 – Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista on Friday strongly criticised the Indian Youth Congress for staging a disruptive “shirtless” protest at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit, terming it a “National Shame”.
In a sharply worded post on X, Bista accused Congress workers, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, of deliberately trying to embarrass India on the global stage during a prestigious international event showcasing the country’s technological leadership.
“At a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit, the Congress party chose disruption over dignity,” Bista wrote. He added that such acts only serve the interests of those who wish to see India falter.
The protest took place at Bharat Mandapam, the main venue of the summit. Youth Congress workers reportedly removed their shirts, waved them while shouting slogans, and created a ruckus inside the exhibition hall. Around 10 protesters were detained by police.
Bista emphasised that while political opposition is a democratic right, sabotaging India’s global image is unacceptable. “India deserves better,” he concluded.
The incident has sparked a fresh round of political slugfest, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of lowering the dignity of a high-profile global event. The summit, which features top global tech leaders including OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai, aims to position India as a major player in the global AI ecosystem.
The Congress is yet to issue an official response to Bista’s remarks.