Shirtless protest: Delhi court remands Youth Congress members to 5-day custody
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New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday remanded four members of the Youth Congress to five days of police custody following their arrest during a shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit on Friday.
The accused, Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav, were produced before the Patiala House Court after being apprehended for disrupting proceedings at the high-profile summit venue.
The investigating agency sought police custody, stating that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the protest, identify other participants, and examine the circumstances under which the demonstration was organised.
The defence opposed the remand plea, arguing that the accused were participating in a peaceful protest and that continued detention was unwarranted. After hearing both sides, the court remanded all four to five days of police custody and rejected their bail applications.
Officials said the protest involved several Youth Congress workers removing their shirts, shouting slogans, standing topless in front of an India AI Summit board, clicking pictures, and attempting to create a ruckus. Security personnel quickly intervened and escorted the protesters out.
The incident drew sharp political reactions. BJP leaders condemned the protest as inappropriate and accused the Congress party of trying to derail a national event showcasing India’s technological progress.
The Youth Congress, however, defended the demonstration, saying it aimed to highlight concerns that “corporate interests are being prioritised over national interests” and criticised the government’s foreign policy stance. The group also linked the protest to economic issues such as rising prices and joblessness, asserting that youth frustration had prompted their actions.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing.
With IANS inputs
