Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over Arrest of IYC Chief Uday Bhanu Chib

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has strongly criticised the central government following the arrest of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national president Uday Bhanu Chib. The arrest was made in connection with a protest held during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The demonstration reportedly took place during the high-profile event, leading to the detention of Chib and other IYC members. Reacting to the development, Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right of every citizen. He expressed pride in Youth Congress workers, referring to them as “fearless lions” for raising their voices in what he described as the interest of the nation. In his statement, Gandhi alleged that a recent trade agreement with the United States compromises national interests. He claimed that the deal could adversely affect farmers and the textile industry, while also risking the country’s data security by handing it over to the US. He further termed the arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib and other Youth Congress members as an act of “dictatorship and cowardice.” Gandhi reiterated that both he and the Congress party stand firmly with the Youth Congress workers, adding that speaking truth to power should not be treated as a crime but as an act of patriotism.