Tensions flared in political circles as Bihar’s Mangal Pandey, a key government minister, branded Rahul Gandhi a figure of ridicule whom Indians no longer heed. The trigger: Youth Congress’s audacious shirtless protest at the prestigious India AI Summit, which Pandey cited as yet another failed Congress ploy to sully national pride.
Hosted at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, the summit boasted attendance from 20 world leaders, making it a critical showcase for India’s tech prowess. Congress’s intervention, however, turned heads for all the wrong reasons. ‘Whenever there’s a chance to badmouth India, Congress leads the pack. Rahul Gandhi is becoming a punchline, explaining the public’s indifference,’ Pandey asserted.
The minister decried the protest as an affront to global decorum, causing dismay among delegates. ‘Congress aimed to tarnish our image via this shameless act, but they achieved nothing,’ he observed, questioning the party’s grasp on democratic norms.
BJP MP Ashwini Choubey piled on, revealing the summit’s vast scope with 140 countries represented. He portrayed the shirtless stunt as a ‘destructive conspiracy’ by Congress operatives to weaken India on the world stage, executed under leadership signals.
This public spat illuminates BJP’s aggressive counteroffensive against opposition provocations. Gandhi’s camp faces mounting scrutiny, with critics arguing such missteps accelerate Congress’s marginalization. Looking ahead, these exchanges could shape voter sentiments in upcoming electoral battles.