Congress a ‘national shame’, says Rijiju after protest at AI Summit

Rijiju labels Congress a "national shame" after protests disrupt India's prestigious AI Summit, criticizing their actions as detrimental to national dignity.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (February 20, 2026) called the Congress a “national shame” and hit out at the party following a protest by the Indian Youth Congress members at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 venue.

A group of Youth Congress workers took off their t-shirts that had slogans against the government and the India-U.S. trade deal printed on them.

“This is a Global AI Summit not a BJP Election rally! Congress Party itself has become a “National Shame”!!,” Mr. Rijiju wrote on X.

कांग्रेस खुद ही राष्ट्रीय शर्म का कारण बन रही है।This is a Global AI Summit not a BJP Election rally! Congress Party itself has become a "National Shame" !! https://t.co/EHahUoLjcl

The BJP shared a video of the protest on X and slammed the Congress writing, “At a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit, showcasing its innovation and leadership in technology, the Congress party chose disruption over dignity.”

The BJP said that the protest was “clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stage.”