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India’s political confrontation over protest, dissent and democratic rights has further intensified this week after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of criminalising peaceful protest. This drew sharp rebuttals from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and has now deepened an already volatile national debate which is unfolding alongside recent arrests linked to demonstrations at the India AI Impact Summit. File Photo of Rahul Gandhi; Via: Jairam Ramesh In a post on X written in Hindi , Rahul Gandhi said that under what he described as a “compromised PM,” peaceful dissent had been turned into the “biggest crime,” alleging that India was being pushed toward a system where disagreement is labelled “anti-national” and questioning authority treated as conspiracy.  “Peaceful protest is not a crime — it is the soul of democracy,” Rahul Gandhi wrote, and argued that democracy becomes stronger when governments “listen to criticism, respond a...

A sharp inter-state jurisdictional confrontation is currently underplay between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police. This comes after Shimla Police registered an FIR against nearly 15 Delhi Police personnel for what they claimed was alleged abduction in connection with the arrest of three Youth Congress activists who are said to be linked to the February 20 shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi . Himanchal Police VS Delhi Police Standoff in Shimla; Pic Via: Bharat Briefs on X According to a statement by Shimla Police, authorities had received information that 15–20 unidentified individuals in plain clothes arrived at a resort in Mandli village in Chirgaon, which falls in Rohru subdivision of Shimla district. According to the information received, they forcibly took away three guests staying there.  The individuals allegedly seized a Mahindra Thar vehicle belonging to the guests and also removed the DVR of CCTV cameras installed at Chanshal Resort w...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset , Israel’s parliament, during a two-day visit to Israel from February 25 to 26, where he condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack as “barbaric,” reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism, and called for “durable peace and regional stability” in West Asia. A glimpse from the Knesset as shared on X b PM NaMo Opening his address with “Shalom” and “Namaste,” Modi said, “I bring with me greetings of 1.4 billion Indians and a message of friendship, respect and partnership,” and conveyed “the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7th.” He added, “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction in this moment and beyond; no cause can justify murder of civilians.” Modi said India “has also endured ...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman When a youth delegation from Darjeeling met Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan at Uprashtrapati Bhavan on February 24, 2026, the exchange was framed in the language of aspiration and identity. Welcoming what he described as “vibrant young minds from a region known for its natural beauty, rich culture and significant contribution to the nation,” the Vice President said India’s demographic strength is among its “greatest assets” and that the vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “AatmaNirbhar Bharat” calls upon young citizens to contribute with “innovation, integrity and enterprise.”  Members of Darjeeling Youth Delegation at Uprashtrapati Bhavan today; Via: VP India He urged them to remain rooted in their heritage while embracing development, noting that self-reliance reflects “confidence in our abilities and pride in our heritage.” The interaction, attended by Rajya Sabha member Harsh Vardhan Shringla, touched on outmigratio...

Over the crucial week in February 2026 that hosted AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of high-level meetings with leaders from Europe, South Asia, Central Asia and Latin America, using the convergence in New Delhi to deepen trade alignments, technology partnerships and strategic supply-chain cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world. Representational Image; Via PM NaMo Across the week, Modi met leaders from Sri Lanka, Slovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Estonia, Croatia, Bhutan, Serbia, Kazakhstan and Finland, as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, while also hosting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and earlier welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron during his February 17–19 visit.  The clustering of meetings underscored how technology diplomacy, trade realignment and supply-chain resilience are converging in India’s external engagement strategy. On February 20, Modi met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara...

India’s AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded in New Delhi with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact . The pact was endorsed by 88 countries and international organisations, even as the high-profile gathering saw political disruption and exhibition-floor controversy that briefly diverted attention from its stated goals. PM NaMo during the CEO Roundtable at the AI Impact Summit. Held at Bharat Mandapam, the summit brought together representatives from over 100 countries, global technology leaders and policymakers. The declaration, structured around seven pillars including “Democratizing AI Resources,” “Secure & Trusted AI,” “Human Capital Development” and “Resilient, Efficient & Innovative AI Systems,” calls for strengthening international cooperation, respecting national sovereignty and advancing accessible and trustworthy AI frameworks.  Guided by the principle “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” — welfare for all, happiness for all — it underscores that AI’s ...

A day after a brief shirtless protest disrupted the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the Indian National Congress has publicly backed the demonstrators and escalated a political confrontation over the limits of protest at high-profile international events and the substance of India’s trade policy. Protest Screengrab; Via: Ranoj Pegu On February 20, a group of 10 to 15 young men linked to the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), the youth wing of the Congress party, entered Hall No. 5 of the summit venue using valid entry passes or QR codes, according to police statements.  Inside the exhibition hall, they removed white T-shirts printed with red graphics featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s face and the words “PM IS COMPROMISED,” held them aloft like placards and chanted slogans targeting the Prime Minister and his government.  Compromised प्रधानमंत्री के खिलाफ युवाओं का 'हल्ला बोल' ✊ pic.twitter.com/FVmGjIuPYn — Congress (@INCIndia) Febr...

United States President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at the US Supreme Court after it ruled 6–3 that he exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by imposing sweeping tariffs, calling the decision “a disgrace” and announcing plans to pursue alternative legal routes to expand import duties. File Photo of POTUS Trump; Via: The Kobeissi Times In two posts on his Truth Social account, Trump said the Court had wrongly concluded that he could not “charge even $1 DOLLAR to any Country under IEEPA,” while allowing him to “cut off any and all Trade or Business” and impose embargoes.  He argued that the ruling effectively confirmed his authority to regulate trade and impose tariffs under other statutes, citing Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s dissent, which noted that “numerous other federal statutes authorize the President to impose tariffs and might justify most (if not all) of the tariffs issued in this case,” including Section 232 of the Trade Exp...

The US Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs , ruling in a 6–3 decision that he exceeded his legal authority by invoking emergency powers to impose broad import levies without clear congressional approval.  Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority , said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the president unlimited authority to set tariffs, delivering a major setback to Trump’s second-term trade and foreign policy agenda. Representational Image of POTUS; Via: RepsAgainstTrump on X “The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope,” Roberts wrote.  “In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.” The court concluded that the emergency authority relied upon by the administration “falls short,” adding that “The U...