In a stunning development, Delhi Police have nabbed Uday Bhanu Chib, head of Indian Youth Congress, over the disruptive ‘shirtless protest’ that marred the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam. This marks the eighth arrest in the case, which exposed clever infiltration tactics by activists protesting job losses and AI-driven policy failures.
Chib’s arrest came swiftly on Tuesday after dawn custody. Court appearance followed grilling sessions, with police seeking extended remand to trace nationwide links. ‘We need time to unravel the planning,’ officials stated, emphasizing the probe’s complexity.
Flashback to the summit: Activists registered online for QR access, initially plotting with sticker-laden black umbrellas. Spotting risks at entry points, they adapted—donning hidden T-shirts emblazoned with anti-government messages. Inside Hall 5 lobby, they shed outer shirts, erupting into chants targeting unemployment and AI inequities.
The commotion prompted swift police action, filing FIRs for public nuisance at Tilak Marg station. Monday saw arrests of Jitendra Yadav, Raja Gurjar, Ajay Kumar, and others from Gwalior. Now, with Chib in the net, questions swirl: Was this Youth Congress-orchestrated rebellion or individual fury?
As investigations deepen, the episode underscores youth unrest in India’s tech narrative. Critics slam heavy-handed policing; supporters hail it as democratic expression. The AI summit, a beacon of innovation, inadvertently spotlighted societal rifts, fueling debates on free speech versus order.