Delhi Police have arrested several members of the Indian Youth Congress, including Gwalior District President Raja Gujar and former Bhind District Vice President Ajay Kumar Vimal. This brings the total number of arrests related to a protest at the AI Impact Summit to seven.
On Monday morning, police detained Jitendra Yadav from Gwalior. Before his arrest, four other leaders—Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, and Narasimha Yadav—had already been taken into custody. The Patiala House Court has since sent them to five days of police detention.
Authorities found T-shirts and posters from the protest in Krishna Hari’s vehicle. Additionally, another protester has been identified, and efforts are underway to locate others involved.
The court has turned down bail requests for the first four arrested leaders. Authorities argue that their detention is essential to catch any other suspects who may have escaped.
The counsel for the accused insists that their clients were simply exercising their right to protest peacefully. They pointed out the lack of video evidence showing any violent behavior. The accused are described as educated individuals holding significant positions within the party.
The protest itself was marked by dramatic gestures—members removed their shirts, revealing slogans like “Compromised PM” as a form of protest against the Prime Minister’s actions at the summit.
In response to the protests, BJP members have demonstrated in various states, demanding an apology from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
This incident reflects a growing trend of political protests in India, particularly among youth organizations. A survey conducted by the PRS Legislative Research found that around 48% of young people in India believe in the importance of protesting for democratic values. As political tensions rise, these demonstrations are likely to continue shaping public discourse.
For more information on political protests in India, you can check out the PRS Legislative Research.
