Senior Congress Leader Alva Slams Congress Over AI Summit Protest
Senior leader stresses decorum at global events amid row over Youth Congress demonstration
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd Feb: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Margaret Alva has publicly slammed the shirtless protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, emphasising the need for dignity and discipline at international events.
Speaking to the media, Alva said that at global forums such as the AI Impact Summit, “there has to be dignity, there has to be discipline and there has to be a sense of responsibility.”
Her remarks come after Youth Congress workers, during the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, removed their shirts and raised slogans as part of a demonstration that has sparked criticism across political lines.
Alva’s intervention adds a unique dimension to the ongoing debate over the protest, as it represents a senior Congress voice urging restraint and decorum, even as rival political parties have seized on her comments to criticise the party’s actions.
Several political figures and parties have weighed in on the incident, with voices across the spectrum urging careful conduct at international gatherings to uphold the country’s image abroad.
The AI Impact Summit, held from February 16 to 20, 2026, brought together global leaders, policymakers and tech industry representatives, and was attended by over 100 countries.
Alva’s call for dignity and responsibility follows the heated exchange and criticism triggered by the protest, highlighting internal debates over appropriate avenues for political dissent in high-profile settings.
