Youth Congress workers hold shirtless stir at AI Summit over India-US deal, slogans raised against PM Modi | Watch

(Image: Screengrab/ANI)

Indian Youth Congress workers on Friday staged a brief protest at the AI Impact Summit venue in New Delhi over India-US trade deal, where they raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The demonstration attracted attention amid the ongoing AI Summit, with several of the workers reportedly detained. The Delhi Police confirmed that legal proceedings are being initiated in connection with the protest.

According to a report by PTI, ten people were detained in connection with the case.

Footage from the venue showed protesters raising slogans against the government over its decision to agree to a trade deal with the United States. The Opposition Congress has consistently maintained that India failed to secure fair benefits under the newly signed trade framework with the US.

#WATCH | Delhi: Indian Youth Congress workers staged a topless protest and chanted anti-Modi slogans at Bharat Mandapam

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(Source: Indian Youth Congress) pic.twitter.com/WCZgCMwkFZ — ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2026

India-US trade deal

Following a recent phone conversation between PM Modi and United States President Donald Trump, both sides announced a reduction of the US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent. The reduction included the removal of a 25 per cent tariff that Trump had slapped on India in August last year for New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil.

As part of the framework, India has agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US agricultural and food products, including dried distillers' grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.

On the other hand, the United States will impose a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on goods originating in India, including textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal goods and certain machinery.

The Congress has alleged that PM Modi has "surrendered" before US President Donald Trump in agreeing to the deal, which, it claimed, will "devastate" the livelihoods of crores of farmers across states and sacrifice India's energy security, digital sovereignty and economic self-reliance.