Congress hits back at PM Modi’s ‘ganda, nanga’ remark, cites BJP leaders’ shirtless protest photo

The shirtless protest by Indian Youth Congress workers at the AI Impact Summit 2026 has continued to spark political controversy, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday criticising the demonstration as “dirty and naked politics” that, he said, embarrassed the country before international delegates.

Reacting to the remarks, Congress leaders pushed back on social media. Indian Youth Congress leader Sreenivas BV shared an old photograph of former Haryana minister Anil Vij at a public gathering where he and others appeared shirtless. “If removing a T-shirt for protest is called nudity, then what do you call this?” Sreenivas wrote in a post on X.

The protest at the summit venue on Friday quickly became a flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP. A video widely circulated online showed several protesters entering the venue and later removing their jackets while raising slogans against the Prime Minister, linking their demonstration to the party’s opposition to the India–US trade deal.

According to police, the protesters had registered online for the event and entered the venue wearing outer layers, which they removed inside the main hall. They were escorted out and detained. Four individuals were later arrested and sent to five-day police remand.

Reactions from INDIA bloc allies were mixed. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav described the protest as inappropriate, saying political disagreements should not play out in ways that could harm the country’s image on global platforms. Trinamool Congress leader Babul Supriyo also criticised the method of protest, arguing that democratic rights must be exercised responsibly, particularly at international forums.

However, AIMIM spokesperson Aseem Waqar defended the protesters, framing the act as a legitimate form of political expression and drawing comparisons with symbolic protests during India’s freedom movement.

The controversy has unfolded against the backdrop of debate over the India–US trade deal, which the Opposition claims could adversely affect Indian farmers. Fresh uncertainty emerged after the US Supreme Court struck down key tariff measures introduced by President Donald Trump, followed by Trump’s announcement of new tariffs.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the government’s timing in moving ahead with the trade framework, arguing that the Supreme Court’s calendar had been publicly available and that the ruling on tariffs was widely anticipated.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Saturday denied bail to four accused in the summit protest case, observing that national interest and India’s international image could not be compromised. The court said incidents with the potential to disrupt globally significant events warranted thorough investigation.