New Delhi, February 24: The controversy surrounding the Youth Congress’s shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi continues to escalate. Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Youth Congress, was sent to four days of police custody on Tuesday. This protest has drawn sharp criticism from former bureaucrats and military officials across the country.
Vikram Singh, the former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, expressed his disapproval in an interview with a news agency, stating, “The protest that took place on February 20 at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi is extremely shameful. The demonstrators crossed all limits. Some are calling them revolutionaries, but staging such a protest during an AI summit aimed at enhancing India’s image and establishing a distinct identity globally is inappropriate.”
He further remarked, “With millions of rupees being invested in this summit, there was no need for such a demonstration. The police have arrested some of the protesters, and stricter action should be taken against those involved.”
Former DGP Arvind Kumar Jain added, “There is no lack of legal provisions. This was a premeditated act, and the event was executed according to that plan. I believe that the police force deployed for security should have identified and arrested all those involved on the spot. Given the large number of security personnel present, it is unclear why only four individuals were arrested.”
Jain emphasized, “There are many programs and methods through which one can express dissent or protest. However, disrupting major global events, where presidents from various countries and CEOs from large corporations are present, is unacceptable.”
He noted, “Yes, many top CEOs from foreign countries and major companies have announced plans to establish data centers in India and increase their investments. This has positioned India as an emerging AI player on the international stage. This shocking and disgraceful incident has tarnished India’s image in the eyes of foreigners and many parts of the world. Such behavior is completely wrong.”
SP Vaid, the former DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, remarked, “While people often voice their dissent against the government, which can be considered freedom of speech, the disgraceful act at the AI summit damages the country’s image. They claim that youth lack job opportunities, but events like the AI summit will create more employment and increase the use of technology, benefiting educated youth. Those who wish to protest should do so, but such actions on an international platform indicate a conspiracy against India.”
He added, “The Youth Congress’s actions, even if defended by their party leaders, should prompt us to consider avoiding actions that tarnish the country’s image and create a negative perception of India. When you start speaking positively about your country, the public will empower you. However, engaging in such acts will only diminish your chances of gaining power.”
Additionally, Vaid praised the police and security forces for their successful operation that resulted in the neutralization of Saifullah and two associates, noting the challenges of conducting the operation in a difficult area.
He mentioned that since Mohammad Yunus arrived from Bangladesh, protests among the youth there have intensified.
It is noteworthy that the Patiala Court has sent Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Youth Congress, to four days of police custody, prompting the Congress party to accuse the ruling NDA government of adopting a deliberately authoritarian stance.
Leave a Comment