New Delhi: BJP on Friday reacted furiously to the Youth Congress' dramatic protest at the global AI impact summit, alleging that the "topless, brainless and shameless" ruckus was planned at
Rahul Gandhi's residence, as defence minister Rajnath Singh accused Congress of undermining India's image at a time when it is being recognised globally for its progress.
The protest at the venue of the showpiece event, which has drawn world leaders and tech bigwigs, sparked a wave of denunciation from the BJP brass and its allies.
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"So, Rahul Gandhi, humiliating India to target govt is your idea of opposition! While you want to choke India's development by peddling lies about the recent trade deals, your foot soldiers are marching shirtless at the prestigious AI summit, attempting to embarrass 140 crore Indians globally," Union minister Piyush Goyal said.
Another minister Dharmendra Pradhan said it is now clear that vested political and family interest and not national interest is supreme for Congress. Its politics is now confined to disruption and embarrassment, he alleged.
Rajnath said a protest like this risks undermining India's image when it is being recognised globally for its progress. Such partisan disruptions serve no national purpose, and political differences must never come at the cost of the country's honour, he added.
BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said Congress under Rahul's leadership has increasingly positioned itself as "anti-national and anti-development", becoming a "disgrace" for the nation.
At a presser, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "For Congress, I have just three words: topless, brainless and shameless." "The entire planning was done at Rahul Gandhi's residence, in presence of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. It was not an experiment," he claimed.
BJP allies were equally sharp in their condemnation. JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha said the protest at a global summit reflected Congress's desperation. "Such theatrics may seek attention, but they only expose the intellectual bankruptcy of those who mistake disruption for dissent. These reckless attempts to belittle Bharat on an international platform will not derail our nation's progress," he said.