Rahul, Kharge lash out at govt over arrest of Youth Congress workers
This story was originally published at 14:35 IST on 24 February 2026
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NEW DELHI – Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Tuesday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government over the arrest of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib and other workers of the party's youth organisation in connection with the "shirtless protest" against the government at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi Friday.
"I am proud of our lion-hearted colleagues of the Indian Youth Congress who, in the interest of the nation, fearlessly raised their voice against the 'compromised PM'," Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X.
He said peaceful protest is a democratic right of every citizen and a historical legacy of the Congress. "In the trade deal with the US, compromises have been made to our national interests. This deal will hurt our farmers and the textile sector and will hand over our data to the US. It is cowardly and dictatorial to arrest Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib and others for highlighting this fact," he said.
The senior Congress leader said that showing the mirror to power is not a crime but patriotism. "Fear not, the truth and the Constitution is on our side," he added.
Kharge, leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, condemned the government's attempts to "intimidate" the Congress party and its youth leadership. "We are not cowards, we will not get intimidated like this," Kharge posted on X. "Mr. Modi is himself cowardly. He cannot dare to come to Parliament and defend his own policies. That is why he is trying to intimidate us. I condemn this." The prime minister has called the shirtless protest by Youth Congress activists at the AI Impact Summit "shameful".
The Congress president said his party is ready to make any sacrifice to defend democracy and the Constitution of India. Meanwhile, a Delhi court Tuesday sent Chib to four days' police custody. Chib had been detained by the Delhi Police Monday. End
Reported by Asim Khan
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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