AI Impact Summit Turns Political Flashpoint as BJP Alleges ‘Negative PR’ Campaign by Congress
What was envisioned as a landmark gathering to showcase India’s growing leadership in artificial intelligence has spiraled into a fierce political confrontation. The AI Impact Summit, hosted in India as a platform for innovation and global collaboration, is now at the center of a bitter war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress.
The controversy escalated after members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a dramatic shirtless protest at the event venue. In response, the BJP has levelled a more explosive accusation: that Congress orchestrated a paid “negative PR campaign” using social media influencers to undermine the summit’s image.
BJP Alleges Coordinated Attempt to Discredit Summit
The allegations were amplified by BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who took to the social media platform X to accuse Congress of deliberately attempting to tarnish both the AI Summit and India’s global standing.
According to Poonawalla, individuals linked to Congress’s public relations machinery approached influencers with financial offers ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹40,000 in exchange for producing content critical of the summit. He described the purported effort as a calculated move to portray the international event as a failure.
In a strongly worded post, he questioned whether opposing the BJP had morphed into opposing the nation itself, especially at a time when India is positioning itself as a major technology hub on the world stage. Referring to the earlier shirtless protest, he suggested that the alleged influencer outreach represented a second phase of disruption.
Influencers Claim Outreach Attempts
The row deepened after several social media influencers publicly claimed they had received offers to create scripted content criticizing the summit. Videos circulating online feature individuals alleging that they were contacted by people associated with Congress and encouraged to push negative narratives.
Some influencers have asserted that they possess chat records and audio clips as proof of the alleged proposals. While these claims have fueled political tensions, independent verification of the materials has yet to be publicly established.
Shirtless Protest Sparks Security Response
The political storm first erupted last Friday when a group of Indian Youth Congress workers entered an exhibition hall during the AI Impact Summit and staged a shirtless demonstration. Protesters reportedly carried T-shirts bearing slogans critical of the government and the India–US trade deal, marching through the venue before being escorted out by security personnel.
Following the disruption, the Delhi Police arrested eight Youth Congress workers, including IYC President Srinivas BV, in connection with the incident.
Political Fallout Intensifies
The BJP has responded sharply, branding Congress as “anti-India” and accusing it of repeatedly attempting to damage the country’s reputation on international platforms. Party leaders argue that targeting a global technology summit sends the wrong signal at a time when India is striving to project itself as a leader in artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
Congress, for its part, has not yet issued a detailed rebuttal to the specific allegations surrounding influencer payments. The absence of a comprehensive response has only added to the charged atmosphere.
As India works to cement its status in the global AI ecosystem, the episode underscores how quickly high-profile international events can become arenas for domestic political battles. Whether the controversy fades or escalates further may depend on what evidence, if any, emerges in the days ahead.