YS Sharmila defends Congress protest at AI Summit

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y.S. Sharmila Reddy on Sunday strongly defended the Congress party’s protest at the recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit, launching a sharp political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Addressing the media in Vijayawada, Sharmila criticised the reactions of ruling party leaders to the Congress protest, describing their condemnation as hypocritical and politically motivated. She alleged that the country’s reputation had already been undermined at the summit by the display of foreign technology products, including a “Chinese robotic exhibit,” and questioned why those criticising the Congress protest had remained silent then.

Sharmila said the Congress had staged a peaceful demonstration to highlight issues concerning national interests and economic policies, and accused political opponents of attempting to divert attention by portraying the protest negatively. “Calling a peaceful protest shameful is itself more unfortunate,” she remarked, adding that concerns about national prestige should have been raised when, according to her, the summit’s organisation projected India poorly before representatives from several countries.

The APCC chief also criticised both the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh and the opposition YSRCP, alleging that they were indirectly supporting the BJP at the national level. She claimed that regional parties were acting as mouthpieces of the Centre instead of holding it accountable on issues affecting farmers and the economy.

Taking a political swipe at both Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, she said their criticism of Congress actions lacked credibility, asserting that their calls for political unity sounded contradictory given their own political alignments.

Sharmila further alleged that attempts to label Congress protests as disruptive reflected the Centre’s intolerance toward dissent, adding that growing public support for the Congress was making rival parties increasingly uncomfortable.