By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The ruling political party BJP and their supporters have been busy for the last five days branding an act of becoming ‘shirtless’ as a protest against PM Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 20 at Bharat Mandapam New Delhi, as anti-India, while suppression of dissent has been branded as Nationalism. Police have made 8 arrests so far in this connection and even denied copies of the FIR to the Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib, on which a court has to pass an order to supply the same to the accused in custody observing “allegation lack hallmark of terrorism’.
A first class judicial magistrate of the Patiala House Court in New Delhi observed that denial of copy of FIR violates statutory mandate under section 230 of BNSS and constitutional safeguards under Article 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India. The Judge even observed that the allegations stem from a symbolic protest “lacking hallmarks of terrorism or insurgency.” And thus, it does not qualify as sensitive, and Investigating Officer’s claim is untenable. Allowing the same, the court said, “Applicant cannot prepare bail/defence without foundational document, causing irreparable prejudice. Supply poses no investigation risk, especially post-transfer to the crime branch.”
The observation of the court clearly suggests that the offences against the protesters were not so serious as Modi’s supporters are trying to make it. It seems it is just governments highhandedness against the peaceful protesters, just to suppress the voice against the PM Modi led government.
It should be noted that the protesters became shirtless to reveal their T-Shirts bearing images of PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal. It is worth mentioning here that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had already alleged that PM Modi government had sold the “Bharat Mata” by signing Indo-US trade deal. He also referred to the Epstein files and involvement of certain minister of the Modi government, and had them shameful.
After the Youth Congress protest, PM Narendra Modi on February 22 had accused Congress of using a global event for its “dirty and naked politics” and said the protest showed how “ideologically bankrupt” and impoverished the grand old party has become.
Everybody knows that if anyone has no freedom to protest, he does not have freedom at all. However, Modi supporters go on expressing their opinion that the protests was anti-national, while the police have registered FIR adding charges including rioting and criminal conspiracy, and they see even deep conspiracy and the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch’s Inter-State Cell for broader investigation.
The ruling party and the government officials have sharply criticized the protest as inappropriate, saying it hurt India’s image. A group of 277 prominent personalities have issued statements condemning the method of protest. A parliamentary panel has passed a resolution condemning the protest, though some opposition MPs dissented. Union Ministers and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor have called the protest ill-conceived and malicious.
On the other hand, the Youth Congress has defended the protest as peaceful dissent against government policies, asserting that dissent is not anti-India. The Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have expressed solidarity with the arrested Indian Youth Congress workers and criticized the police actions.
Initial charges in the Delhi police FIR against the protesters were unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of public servants. Later rioting and provocation charges were added. Police now allege that the act was premeditated and part of a deeper conspiracy, possibly involving other aides.
Senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi defended the protesters arrested, stating their demonstration was peaceful and should not be criminalised. He said that the protest involved no violence, hurt, or intent to create disturbance. He alleged that the government has weaponised criminal law to throttle dissent and criticised the current dispensation for its intolerance of dissent since 2014, citing misuse of sedition laws and police action against protesters.
Youth Congress workers today raised slogans against the Delhi Police inside and outside the court premises. Maharashtra Youth Congress State President Suraj Maurya has said, “The government wants to intimidate youth across the country so that they do not protest against the government. This is a dictatorship.”
LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has expressed solidarity with the Indian Youth Congress leaders following the arrest of its national President Uday Bhanu Chib. He called the Youth Congress members “fearless” and praised their peaceful protest. He has said in a social media post, “Peaceful protest is our historical legacy. It is in our blood and is the democratic right of every Indian. I am proud of my Babbar Sher comrades in the Youth Congress, who have fearlessly raised their voices in the interest of the country against the ‘COMPROMISED PM.” He said the arrests a “proof of dictatorial tendencies and cowardice.”
BJP leaders have been trying to brand the chief opposition Congress as anti-India, while the Congress has been pointing out how the government under PM Narendra Modi is working in favour of the selected corporate houses at the cost of common people of the country.
Opposition has alleged that dissent is being suppressed in this country through all possible means, which includes the misuse of investigating agencies, and branding every dissenter or protester anti-national, seditious, and terrorists. Any one talking about the freedom of speech and expression, and human rights, runs a risk of being called urban Naxals. Now the question is – Has India entered into an era of despotism? (IPA Service)
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