‘PM Modi Is Scared Of Questions’
IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib was detained by Delhi Police after a group of Youth Congress members staged a shirtless demonstration inside the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam last week
The Indian National Congress has mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress, in connection with a protest during last week’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
Chib was detained by Delhi Police after a group of Youth Congress members staged a shirtless demonstration inside the summit venue at Bharat Mandapam. With his arrest, the total number of people held in the case has risen to eight.
A police official said security had been intensified across “sensitive locations” in the capital amid fears of further protests. “We have stepped up deployment in central Delhi to prevent any untoward incident,” the officer said. Additional personnel have been stationed around Tilak Marg police station, where Chib is currently being held. Barricades have been erected at key junctions, anti-riot units placed on standby and Quick Reaction Teams, along with paramilitary forces, put on alert.
“Our priority is to maintain public order and ensure that daily life is not disrupted,” a senior officer said. “Preventive action will be taken against any unauthorised gatherings.”
Reacting strongly, Congress media department head Pawan Khera accused the prime minister of being intolerant of criticism. “It is the duty of the opposition to protest in a democracy,” Khera said. He alleged that Mr Modi was “scared of dissent and questions being asked of him,” and claimed the government was using state machinery to stifle democratic voices.
Speaking from Bhopal, where he was attending a party programme opposing the India–US interim trade deal, Khera said, “This government believes in intimidation, not dialogue.” He added that the Congress would continue to raise public concerns through non-violent means, invoking the party’s commitment to “ahimsa”. “We have always believed in peaceful protest. We will not be silenced,” he said.
According to police, additional charges have been invoked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to promoting enmity between groups and acts prejudicial to national integration — offences that carry potential prison terms of up to three years. Other charges include criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, obstructing a public servant and disobedience of official orders.
Earlier, seven Youth Congress workers were arrested, including three from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Another office-bearer from Uttar Pradesh was detained in Lalitpur.
The protest occurred inside Hall No. 5 of the summit venue, when Youth Congress members removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts bearing slogans critical of the government and the India–US interim trade deal. “It was a symbolic and peaceful protest,” a Youth Congress functionary said. Security personnel quickly escorted the demonstrators out.
Investigators said the participants had registered online and obtained QR codes to access the venue. Officials are reviewing CCTV footage, digital records and entry logs to reconstruct the sequence of events. “We are examining whether the protest was pre-planned and how it was funded, including the printing of the T-shirts,” a police source said.
The episode has triggered a political row. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party described the demonstration as “an attempt to embarrass India on an international platform,” while the Youth Congress maintained it was “a peaceful act to protect national interests and raise critical questions about government policy.”
