Senior Congress leaders came out in support of the Indian Youth Congress and its president, Uday Bhanu Chib, following his arrest by Delhi Police on Tuesday. Chib was taken into custody in connection with a shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit last Friday and was sent to four days of police custody by a Judicial Magistrate. Youth Congress members staged protests outside Patiala House Court, blocking roads to demand his release.
Congress Strikes Back at BJP Criticism
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge defended Chib, comparing the Youth Congress protest to the disruptions caused by BJP leaders, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Kharge said, “Stop trying to teach us patriotism. Instead of harassing Youth Congress members, you should let them go.”
He added that BJP leaders had previously disrupted international events without any concern for national sentiment, implying the current criticism of the Youth Congress was politically motivated.
Rahul Gandhi Backs Youth Congress Workers
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also expressed solidarity with the Youth Congress. Calling them his “babbar sher comrades,” Gandhi said their arrest highlighted “dictatorial tendencies and cowardice.”
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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi criticized the India-US trade deal, claiming it harmed farmers, the textile industry, and national data sovereignty. He emphasized, “Peaceful protest is our historical legacy. Holding a mirror to power is not a crime—it is patriotism. The Congress Party and I stand firmly with our Babbar Sher comrades.”
Family Shows Support
Chib’s mother, Rajni Bala, speaking from Jammu, said she was proud of her son. She quoted him as saying that while they follow Gandhi’s path, they can become like Bhagat Singh if the country needs them. She urged young people to think about the nation and said the protest did not constitute a crime.
Addressing criticism that the protest embarrassed India on a global stage, Rajni Bala recalled the Galgotias University controversy, where China’s robot was presented as India’s own innovation at the summit. She questioned why that incident did not draw similar embarrassment.