By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | March 13, 2026
AGARTALA: Following the recent political firestorm in the national capital, the Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress held a press conference today to explain the motives behind the dramatic “shirtless” protest staged by Youth Congress activists during the International AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The state leadership also used the platform to announce a fresh round of agitations, specifically targeting the controversial India-US Trade Deal.
Why the AI Summit Was Protested
Addressing the media, Tripura Youth Congress leaders clarified that the protest in Delhi was not against technological advancement, but rather a symbolic act to draw global attention to what they call the “compromising of national interests.”
The Core Grievances:
- The India-US Trade Framework: The Youth Congress alleges that the proposed trade agreement with the United States is detrimental to Indian farmers and small-scale industries. They claim the deal lacks “justifiable benefits” for India and was signed in a non-transparent manner.
- Data Sovereignty: Protesters in Delhi raised slogans suggesting that the AI Summit was being used as a platform to “trade off” the personal data of millions of Indians to foreign corporations.
- Unemployment Crisis: Leaders argued that while the government discusses Artificial Intelligence on a global stage, it remains silent on the “real-world” intelligence of millions of unemployed Indian youths.
March 16: “Chalo Delhi” for US Deal Protest
Escalating their movement, the Tripura unit announced that they would participate in a massive demonstration in New Delhi on March 16, 2026. This upcoming protest will specifically focus on the “US Deal” and its perceived impact on the domestic economy.
”The protest at the AI Summit was just the beginning. Our national president, Uday Bhanu Chib, and other workers were arrested for speaking the truth. On March 16, Youth Congress members from across the country, including a delegation from Tripura, will gather in Delhi to demand a complete rollback of the trade terms that mortgage our farmers’ future to American interests,” a spokesperson for the Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress stated.
State-Level Agitation Plans
In addition to the Delhi program, the Youth Congress in Tripura plans to hold district-level rallies. They warned that if the central government does not release a “White Paper” on the details of the India-US trade framework, the youth wing will intensify its protests during the ongoing state budget sessions.
The leadership also condemned the use of facial recognition technology and “draconian” charges by the Delhi Police to target peaceful protesters, calling it a “sign of a compromised democracy.”
