Desk Correspondent , New Delhi - Beginning with a significant protest by worker members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) in front of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, which was held inside the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The controversy surrounding this protest, as well as the reactions it elicited from supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is arguably among the largest in terms of intensity and scope of any controversy of 2026. The protests have caused heated exchanges between the government and its opponents concerning the "politics of image" and national pride, as analysts refer to them.

The protests took place on Feb 20, inside an exhibition area of the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi; a group of IYC workers had removed their shirts and displayed T-shirts with slogans against the India-US trade agreement framework and pictures of Mr Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. Security personnel immediately responded and detained four protesters.

Prime Minister Modi spoke about the subject on Sunday in Meerut. Modi attacked his opponents, stating that the protest turned a "Global Event for India" into a "stage for dirty and naked politics." Modi said, "You are already naked; why did you take off your clothes?"—a statement that quickly spread throughout television news stations and social media.

BJP leaders and other young people supporting Modi stated that Congress was damaging India's international reputation at a summit attended by delegations from several nations and technology company representatives. Young BJP activists protested the demonstrations in Varanasi and Delhi and even burned a mock representation of Congress leaders.

Some opposition party allies also distanced themselves from the protesters' methods; Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav called the protest "not suitable" while still acknowledging the protesters' right to dissent and urged them to consider the reputation of India internationally.

However, Congress leaders defended the move by saying it is the outburst of frustration of the unemployed youth, asserting that sometimes dramatic protests are necessary to draw attention to issues like trade deals and governance. They stated that even though the summit was for AI development, it should not overshadow political decisions from scrutiny.

The controversy highlights a wider debate in Indian politics: how far opposition parties should push the boundaries of protest, especially at international events designed to project India’s achievements. As the 2027 national vote draws nearer, that shirtless protest might keep echoing through debates, mixing visual drama with serious talk about respect, country image, and political strategy on India’s global stage.