Modi Slams Shirtless Protest At AI Summit
Meerut (Uttar Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the “shirtless” protest at the recent India AI Impact Summit, accusing the party of turning a global platform into an arena for “dirty and naked politics”. Addressing a public meeting in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi referred to the protest organized by Congress leaders during the Artificial Intelligence Summit held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday.
“There are some political parties within the country who cannot digest India’s success. You have just witnessed the world’s largest artificial intelligence conference in India. Delegates from more than 80 countries came to Delhi. Heads of state from nearly 20 countries came to India. I want to ask the people of Meerut: Were you proud of this artificial intelligence conference?… The whole country was full of pride. So what did the Congress and its ecosystem do? The Congress turned a global event for India into the platform of its dirty and naked politics. Congress leaders appealed to the Congress I arrived naked in front of foreign guests, the country already knows that you are naked, so why did you feel the need to take off your clothes?
Saying that the actions of the Congress reflect their ideological bankruptcy and show how impoverished the country’s oldest party has become, Prime Minister Modi claimed that no BJP leaders were present during the protest and said that the Artificial Intelligence Global Summit was a national event, not a BJP function. He accused the Congress of violating etiquette and disrespecting a forum aimed at showcasing India’s technological progress. “This corrupt policy of the Congress is condemned by the entire country,” he said.
The Prime Minister also accused Congress leaders of making personal attacks. “Congress leaders hate Modi; they want to dig my grave. They don’t even hesitate to insult my mother,” he said. On February 20, Indian Youth Congress cadres staged a “shirtless” protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticizing the AI Impact Summit and accusing the Prime Minister of being “compromised” on the India-US trade deal framework.
Meanwhile, in his speech today, Prime Minister Modi drew attention to India’s increasing global reputation and said that developed countries are now willing to conclude trade agreements with India, reflecting increasing international confidence. “There was a time when the Congress government, despite wanting to, could not make deals with developed countries because the world was wary of dealing with a government notorious for fraud. Today, developed countries are keen to connect with India. The world feels that India can provide solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.” Prime Minister Modi compared the current pace of metro expansion with what he described as slow progress before 2014. He said that during the Congress-led regime, metro services operated in only five cities, whereas during the BJP government, metro networks now operate in more than 25 cities, making India the third largest metro network in the world.
“When the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in power in Delhi, infrastructure projects would turn into scams. Most of the metro-related technologies had to be imported. We not only stopped the scam but also took the country forward on the path of self-reliance,” he said.
Referring to Meerut and western Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said farmers, textile workers, artisans and traders have consistently supported the development agenda of the BJP. While the Congress accused the Samajwadi Party and BSP of pursuing “toxic politics”, he claimed that the BJP had made development its core principle. “If there is one thing that is universal, it is development. Metro and Meerut Metro are examples of this,” he said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi flagged off Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat Train at Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station. From there, the Prime Minister took the metro ride to Meerut South Station, where he interacted with students. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP BJP President and Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary accompanied the Chief Minister along with officials. PM Modi also inaugurated various development projects worth around ₹12,930 crore in Meerut and dedicated them to the country.
