Academicians Criticise Youth Congress Protest at AI Summit
New Delhi, February 23, 2026 : More than 150 academicians from leading universities and research institutions across the country have issued a strongly worded joint statement condemning a protest staged by the Indian Youth Congress during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi earlier this week, terming it profoundly regrettable and ill-conceived at a moment of global focus on India’s technological progress. The signatories stated that the disruption risked undermining India’s credibility as a serious player in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
In their joint communication, the academicians described the summit as a defining national platform intended to showcase India’s emergence as a technological force in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They maintained that such forums are designed for policy dialogue, research collaboration and innovation partnerships, and should not be converted into arenas for partisan political demonstrations.
Among the prominent signatories were Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, IIT Roorkee Director Kamal Kishore Pant, IIT Dharwad Director Venkappayya R Desai, and IIT Jodhpur Director Avinash Kumar Agarwal. The statement also carried endorsements from several vice-chancellors, institute heads and senior professors from central universities and technical institutions across India.
The protest by members of the Indian Youth Congress reportedly involved a dramatic demonstration inside one of the summit’s exhibition halls, including a shirtless march with T-shirts bearing slogans critical of government policies. Security personnel intervened and escorted the protesters out of the venue. Authorities later confirmed that several individuals were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Academicians emphasised that while democratic dissent remains a legitimate and protected right, international technology summits require decorum and focus, especially when India is positioning itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence research, innovation and responsible deployment. They noted that the summit drew participation from hundreds of exhibitors, technology leaders and delegates from multiple countries, reflecting India’s growing footprint in the global AI ecosystem.
The statement concluded by urging political stakeholders to engage through structured consultations, academic debate and parliamentary processes when raising concerns about data governance, employment shifts and ethical frameworks in artificial intelligence. According to the signatories, preserving the dignity of national platforms is essential at a time when India’s technological ambitions are under international scrutiny.
