Jammu, February 24 – Rajni Bala, the mother of Uday Bhanu Chib, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), reacted to his arrest by the Delhi Police on Tuesday over the shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit, questioning, "When did protests in the country become a conspiracy?"
Speaking to IANS, Rajni Bala said, "He was arrested yesterday. I don't understand, when did protesting in our country become a conspiracy? The Constitution gives us the right to protest if the government does something wrong."
She further added, "Also, if someone wants to raise their voice for the youth and the people, then they have the right to hold protests. The Constitution gives us this right. Where is the conspiracy in this?"
Responding to allegations against her son, she said, "Everyone is saying that Uday Bhanu was behind this. He is the president of the Youth Congress, so it is understood that everything happens on his say."
"All workers work by taking suggestions and then holding protests. I don't know why the Union government is taking this matter so personally, as to why they held a shirtless protest," she told IANS.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court remanded Uday Bhanu Chib to four days of police custody on Tuesday following his arrest in connection with the shirtless protest held during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
Chib was produced before the Patiala House Court after his arrest by the Delhi Police earlier in the day.
The investigating agency sought seven days of custodial interrogation, submitting that Chib was the "main conspirator and mastermind" behind the incident.
Opposing the plea, the defence argued against prolonged custody, while the prosecution contended that custodial interrogation was essential to uncover the larger conspiracy.
After hearing both sides, the Patiala House Court granted four days of police custody for further investigation.
According to the grounds of arrest, Chib has been accused of being the main conspirator in organising an unlawful assembly on February 20 at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit and Expo 2026, where alleged anti-national slogans were raised and attempts were allegedly made to incite a riot-like situation.
