Rahul Gandhi Lauds 'Babbar Sher Comrades' After Youth Congress Protest at AI Summit
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday strongly praised the detained Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, whom he referred to as 'Babbar Sher comrades,' for their protest during the AI Summit held at Bharat Mandapam. He commended the youth wing for fearlessly raising their voices, emphasizing that 'peaceful protest is our right.'
Gandhi's Social Media Post and Allegations Against Trade Deal
In a post shared on X, Rahul Gandhi stated, 'Peaceful protest is our historic heritage. It is in our blood and is the democratic right of every Indian. I am proud of my Babbar Sher comrades in the Youth Congress, who have fearlessly raised their voices in the nation’s interest against the ‘COMPROMISED PM.’ He further alleged that the India-US trade agreement was detrimental to national interests, claiming, 'The Trade Deal with America has compromised the country’s interests. This agreement will harm our farmers and textile industry and hand over our data to America.'
Details of the Protest and Detentions
Rahul Gandhi's remarks followed the detention of approximately 10 IYC workers on Friday after they briefly raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Exhibition Hall No. 5 at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 12:30 pm. Additional Commissioner of Police Devesh Mahla noted that the protesters had registered online to attend the summit.
The group entered the venue wearing or carrying white T-shirts printed with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. The T-shirts also bore slogans such as 'India-US Trade Deal,' 'Epstein Files,' and 'PM is compromised.' The protest reportedly led to heated exchanges with some attendees before security personnel intervened. Officials confirmed that those detained are being identified and appropriate legal action is being initiated.
Arrest of Youth Congress Chief and Political Reactions
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police sought seven days of police custody for Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib, who was arrested in connection with the protest. Chib was produced before a judicial magistrate at Patiala House Court following his arrest after questioning. Police alleged that there was a 'common intention' behind the demonstration and claimed Chib was the mastermind, having 'hatched the conspiracy' and arranged logistics and funding for the protest.
Responding to the arrest, Rahul Gandhi described it as politically motivated, stating in his post on X, 'The arrest of Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib and other IYC comrades for bringing this truth before the nation is proof of dictatorial tendencies and cowardice.' The protest, which included reports of a 'shirtless' demonstration by some youth wing members, triggered sharp political reactions. BJP leaders criticized the Congress, accusing it of orchestrating a disruption and attempting to 'bring shame to the country on the global platform.'
Reaffirmation of Support and Broader Implications
Reaffirming his party's support for the protesters, Rahul Gandhi added, 'The Congress Party and I stand firmly with our Babbar Sher comrades. Holding a mirror to power with the truth is not a crime, it is patriotism. Do not fear – truth and the Constitution are with us.' This incident highlights ongoing tensions between political factions over protest rights and international agreements, with implications for democratic discourse in India.
