BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday strongly criticised the protest staged by the Indian Youth Congress during the India AI Impact Summit, calling it "shameful" and alleging that it amounted to defaming the country at a time when global technology leaders were honouring India.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has termed the conduct of the Congress at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 as highly unfortunate and shameful, alleging that it was an attempt to tarnish the country's image on an international stage.
He said that Congress is no longer acting as a responsible political party but as an anti-national party, and that Rahul Gandhi's gang, scared of India's progress, has resorted to tarnishing the country's image.
"The vibrancy of the Indian ecosystem, as far as AI is concerned, the world has got a chance to see it. Many applications and solutions which have been developed in India, many of them by startups, were all showcased and showcased very effectively," he said.
Congress leader Harish Rawat on Friday defended the Indian Youth Congress's shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam during the India AI Impact Summit, saying it's the opposition's job to warn against potential misuse of AI.
President of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) Eva Alcon emphasised that the event is just the beginning of a long-term partnership, with both governments supporting joint solutions to shared challenges.
Hungary's Deputy Speaker Lajos Olah on Friday warned that unchecked artificial intelligence could erode the very foundations of democratic systems and said that "democracy cannot function in the absence of accountability," as leaders gathered for a session titled "AI for Democracy- Reimag
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the summit saw participation from leaders and delegations across continents, reinforcing India's growing role as a key player in the global AI landscape.
The protest, organised by IYC cadres, saw party workers removing their shirts at the venue as a mark of dissent. In a statement, the IYC said the protest was against a "compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit."
In a post on X, Singh said that while the world was watching India host the AI Impact Summit and witnessing the country's growing global leadership in the field of technology, the Congress opted for "disruption over contribution."