Political fight shouldn't be at expense of country's honour: Bengal Minister slams 'shirtless protest'

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West Bengal Minister of Information Technology and Electronics Babul Supriyo. File.

West Bengal Minister of Information Technology and Electronics Babul Supriyo. File. | Photo Credit: PTI

West Bengal Minister of Information Technology and Electronics, Babul Supriyo, connected Sunday (February 22, 2026) criticised the caller "shirtless protest" by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers astatine an AI acme successful New Delhi, stating that governmental combat should ne'er beryllium astatine the disbursal of the country's honour.

The TMC person besides stated that ideology guarantees the close to protest, but it besides demands responsibility.

"The shirtless protestation by members of the Indian Youth Congress astatine the AI Summit reflects mediocre judgment. At a forum attended by planetary leaders and planetary concern figures, specified behaviour sends a incorrect connection astir our nationalist priorities," helium said successful an X post.

Democracy guarantees the close to protest, but it besides demands responsibility. When representing India earlier the world, partisan theatrics indispensable springiness mode to maturity and restraint, helium said.

"Political differences tin beryllium fought relentlessly but ne'er astatine the disbursal of the nation's honour and dignity," the Minister said.

On February 20, a radical of IYC workers staged a melodramatic "shirtless protest" astatine the AI Impact Summit accumulation hallway successful Delhi's Bharat Mandapam, walking astir holding t-shirts with slogans against the authorities and the India-U.S. commercialized woody printed connected them.

Following the incident, the Delhi Police arrested 4 IYC workers successful transportation with the protest, with a elder serviceman saying that a probe for a wider conspiracy is underway.

In Delhi, BJP members staged a objection adjacent the Congress office connected February 21, calling the protesters "traitors" for allegedly tarnishing the nation's image.

Several heads of state, planetary AI leaders, academicians and researchers, heads of planetary tech giants and philanthropists attended the monolithic conscionable held astatine Bharat Mandapam.

Published - February 22, 2026 06:30 p.m. IST

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