Shirtless AI Summit protest: Delhi police makes 5th arrest; nabs Youth Congress worker from Gwalior
Times of India
by TOI NEWS DESKFebruary 23, 2026
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The Delhi Police arrested Jitendra Yadav, a Youth Congress worker from Gwalior, in connection with the shirtless protest during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. This marks the fifth arrest made by authorities in relation to the incident, which occurred at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. The protest, organized by Youth Congress activists, involved protesters stripping down to T-shirts featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump while chanting slogans against the government and India's trade deal with the United States. Police recovered additional protest materials, including posters, from the car of another Youth Congress leader, Krishna Hari.
The Delhi Police had previously detained four other individuals in connection with the protest, which they described as a "blatant assault on public order" that harmed India's international image. A Patiala court sent these four accused—Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav—to police custody for five days under charges of criminal conspiracy and causing harm to deter public servants from duty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself condemned the protest, calling it a "dirty and shameless" political move by the Congress party. He criticized the opposition for turning a global event into a platform for political theater.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, not only from the ruling BJP but also from some of the Congress's own allies, including Akhilesh Yadav, who called the protest "inappropriate." The Youth Congress's actions have drawn sharp reactions both domestically and internationally, with many questioning whether such conduct undermines India's diplomatic efforts. The protest occurred on the final day of the AI Summit, which brought together global leaders and technology experts to discuss artificial intelligence. While organizers initially distanced themselves from the protesters, the incident has cast a shadow over the event's reputation and raised concerns about the future of similar international gatherings in
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026