Delhi–Himachal Police Face-Off After Youth Congress Protest at AI Impact Summit
SHIMLA: The controversy triggered by Shirtless Youth Congress protest during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi has now spilled beyond the national capital, snowballing into a political and administrative flashpoint between Delhi and Himachal Pradesh.
On Wednesday, teams from the Delhi Police conducted raids in parts of the Shimla–Solan belt in Himachal Pradesh to trace activists of the Youth Congress and NSUI who allegedly participated in a shirtless protest inside the summit venue while global business and political leaders were in attendance.
However, the operation took an unexpected turn when the Delhi Police personnel were intercepted by a joint team of the Himachal Pradesh Police in the Shimla–Solan area.
Himachal Police reportedly detained and arrested the visiting Delhi Police personnel after they allegedly failed to produce valid warrants and legal authorisation for arrests outside their jurisdiction.
The detained Delhi Police personnel were later produced before a local district and sessions court, setting the stage for an unprecedented confrontation between the two police forces.
Rare Inter-State Police Confrontation
Officials reveal that such a direct face-off between two state police forces is rare and politically sensitive, especially as it unfolds against the backdrop of sharply divided power control—Delhi Police functioning under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, while Himachal Pradesh is governed by the Congress.
It will send wrong signals among citizens across the nation.
The Delhi Police has already registered cases against several activists accused of disrupting the summit and tarnishing India’s image at a major global event.
Investigators maintain that the protest crossed legal and ethical limits, warranting strict action.
On the other hand, the Himachal Pradesh government and Congress leaders argue that due legal process must be followed and accuse Delhi Police of overreach.
They contend that any arrest within Himachal must follow constitutional procedure, irrespective of the political identity of the accused.
Political Temperature Rises
The incident has triggered political blame game.
The BJP has accused the Congress of deliberately attempting to embarrass India on a global stage.
Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Thakur, along with other BJP leaders including BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur, alleged that the protest was not spontaneous but politically motivated that amounted to tarnishing India’s image.
They claim the Congress “openly defended” an act that disrupted a summit of international importance and sent out a negative signal to global investors and diplomatic partners.
The BJP has also pointed to strong remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who at public rally criticised the Congress for, as he put it, trying to derail an event that showcased India’s leadership in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Congress Pushes Back
The Congress, however, has rejected these charges, accusing the BJP of using the incident to manufacture a political storm.
INC Leader Rahul Gandhi and other Party leaders argue that peaceful protest is a democratic right and accuse the Centre of criminalising dissent.
They also allege that the BJP is deliberately “fanning the controversy” to divert attention from unemployment, youth issues and governance concerns, particularly by targeting Youth Congress and NSUI activists.
Global Spotlight on the Summit
The AI Impact Summit had drawn widespread international attention, with participation from global technology giants such as Google, OpenAI and Microsoft, alongside political leaders from Europe and Africa, including the French President, the Zimbabwean President, and business leaders from the EU and United Nations.
The government has projected the summit as a major diplomatic and economic success, positioning India as a global hub for responsible AI development.
What Lies Ahead
Legal experts say the unfolding situation could intensify further, as jurisdictional questions, political accountability and constitutional procedure come under scrutiny.
With cases already registered in Delhi and arrest of youth Congress president Bhanu Pratap, political tempers are running high in Himachal Pradesh as well.
But the Delhi Police- HP Police Confrontation has added a new dimension to the BJP-Congress face-off. It is bound to have wider political and legal ramifications for two state agencies in the days ahead.
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