Jammu, February 23 The BJP's women's wing held a protest in Jammu on Monday, where they burned an effigy of Rahul Gandhi, condemning the Congress for what they called an "unacceptable and irresponsible" protest by its youth wing at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
On Friday, a group of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers staged a dramatic, shirtless protest at an exhibition hall during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, walking around while holding T-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal printed on them.
Seven IYC workers have been arrested, and several more have been questioned by the police.
Led by J-K BJP Mahila Morcha president Neha Mahajan, the protesters gathered outside the Press Club, chanting slogans against the Congress and demanding an apology from Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, for allegedly harming the country's honor and image.
The Mahila Morcha accused the Congress of politicizing a prestigious international event held at Bharat Mandapam, which was meant to showcase India's technological progress.
During the demonstration, the protesters chanted slogans of "Desh ka samman, sabse upar" (Respect for the country is paramount) and "AI Summit par rajneeti bandh karo" (Stop politics at the AI Summit). The burning of the effigy, the protestors said, was done peacefully to register their protest against what they described as "politics against development."
Addressing reporters, Mahajan said that the Congress' actions reflected "frustration and disregard for national interest" and asserted that India's technological rise under Narendra Modi could not be undermined by protests such as the one at the summit.
She said that the BJP's women's wing would continue to oppose misinformation and any attempt to "tarnish" India's international reputation.