NEW DELHI: A clash broke out on Saturday between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party workers during a protest by the BJP against a “shirtless” demonstration by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members at the India AI Impact Summit. According to the video circulating on social media, the confrontation saw stone-pelting, prompting police intervention to control the situation and ensure public safety.Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishna Lalchandani said that the clash occurred near the Congress office, where the BJP protest was underway. “There were two parties involved. One party was protesting. The protest was near the Congress office. The area had been barricaded, and proper police arrangements had been ensured. Suddenly, some rumour-mongering occurred, and some stones were thrown. Then, the other side also threw stones. Some people were injured… It’s too early to say who threw the first stone,” Lalchandani added.The incident follows a “shirtless” protest staged by Youth Congress workers on Friday inside the Bharat Mandapam, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country’s interests during the AI summit. During the demonstration, protesters removed their shirts and raised slogans, drawing attention to what they described as a political and national concern.Patiala House Court on Saturday rejected bail applications for four arrested Youth Congress workers, Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav and sent them to police custody for five days. Police said that the custody was needed to investigate a potential larger conspiracy, including the funding and planning of the protest. Three policemen were reportedly injured during the confrontation.Delhi Police officials said that the protesters had registered online to obtain QR codes to enter the venue and initially planned to use black umbrellas with printed stickers to convey their message.“However, they later felt that the black umbrellas might draw the attention of the security personnel manning the gates, so they changed their plan and got the printed stickers placed on T-shirts instead,” a police source said.The accused reportedly engaged in a scuffle with security personnel and police staff during the protest. Investigators are also examining if the demonstration was part of a wider conspiracy linked to similar protests in Nepal.The lawyer for the accused argued that the protest was a form of political dissent and that the workers were being targeted because of their party affiliation. “Political dissent shouldn’t be crushed like this. The accused are educated office bearers exercising their right to protest peacefully,” the lawyer said.
‘BJP’s reign of terror is ongoing in MP’: Congress reacts to the protest
The Congress party reacting to the incident, blamed the state BJP leadership for the violence. In a post on X, the party wrote, “The BJP’s reign of terror is ongoing in Madhya Pradesh. BJP goons have stormed into the state Congress office. There, these goons engaged in scuffles with Congress workers and caused widespread vandalism. All this thuggery was carried out under the patronage of the BJP government. Here, the government itself is tearing the law to shreds. Immediate action must be taken against these BJP goons.”
