Source The Hindu
NEW DELHI — A Delhi court on Saturday remanded four prominent members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) to five days of police custody following a dramatic “shirtless” protest at the AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam.
The incident, which took place on Friday, saw protesters infiltrate the high-security venue to demonstrate against the government and a controversial India-US trade deal.
The Protest and Arrests
The demonstration occurred in Hall Number 7 of the summit venue, where world leaders and technology executives were gathered. According to police reports, a group of IYC workers entered using pre-registered barcodes. Once inside, they removed their outer shirts to reveal T-shirts printed with slogans such as “Compromised PM” and messages criticizing the country’s trade policies.
The four individuals sent to custody have been identified as:
Krishna Hari: National Secretary (Bihar)
Kundan Yadav: State Secretary (Bihar)
Ajay Kumar: State President (Uttar Pradesh)
Narasimha Yadav: National Coordinator (Telangana)
Police Allege “International Conspiracy”
During the hearing at Patiala House Court, the Delhi Police argued that the protest was not a spontaneous act but a “premeditated conspiracy” designed to embarrass India on the global stage.
The prosecution claimed that the demonstration was modeled after “Gen-Z” protests recently seen in Nepal. They further alleged that three police personnel were injured in a scuffle during the eviction of the protesters. The police sought five days of remand to:
Investigate the source of funding for the protest.
Trace where the customized T-shirts were printed.
Identify other individuals who fled the scene.
Defense Cites Democratic Rights
Counsel for the accused strongly opposed the remand, arguing that the protesters were merely exercising their constitutional right to peaceful dissent. The defense maintained that the protesters are educated individuals and political office-bearers who did not engage in violence. They further argued that since the alleged offences carry a maximum punishment of less than seven years, custodial interrogation was unnecessary.
“Political dissent should not be crushed like this. Protesting is a fundamental right, and no video evidence shows our clients engaging in any form of aggression,” the defense stated.
Political Fallout
The protest has sparked a fierce war of words. The BJP labeled the incident a “national shame,” accusing the Congress party of disrupting a prestigious event that showcases India’s technological leadership. Conversely, IYC leadership asserted that they will not be “intimidated” by legal action and will continue to raise their voices against policies they believe compromise the national identity.
The four accused will remain in custodial interrogation until February 26, as police continue to examine digital evidence and mobile phone records.
