New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) A Delhi court on Tuesday sent Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), to four days of police custody in connection with a “shirtless” protest at the India AI Impact Summit.
Chib was arrested at 4:30 am and produced before the court, which granted the police four days of custody for questioning regarding his role in the protest. Police officials had sought seven days of custody, according to his counsel.
During the protest, IYC members removed their shirts to reveal T-shirts with slogans critical of the central government. With Chib’s arrest, the total number of people arrested in connection with the protest has reached eight.
The IYC condemned the arrests on social media platform X, calling them an attack on democratic rights and asserting that their members were raising legitimate concerns in the interest of farmers, workers, and national interest.
Bhupesh Baghel, Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, also strongly condemned the arrests, describing them as “illegal”.
Taking a dig at the central government, he said that “in a democracy, young people raising their voice, asking questions, and protesting is not a crime; it is the strongest weapon of democracy.”
“Our young Congress workers, without any violence or provocation, peacefully highlighted the Prime Minister’s compromises and the unheard suffering of the youth,” he added on X, calling for the immediate release of Chib and other IYC workers and the withdrawal of all charges.
Saying that the arrest was an attack on freedom of expression and democracy, the Congress leader demanded the immediate release of Chib and other IYC workers, withdrawal of charges imposed on them.
The arrest follows a protest last week, in which IYC members staged a demonstration at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit by removing their shirts to reveal T-shirts bearing slogans critical of the government.
