Bengaluru, Feb. 24 -- Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday condemned the arrest of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, terming it "non-violent" and criticised the central government's handling of protests.

The members of the Indian Youth Congress on February 20 staged a 'shirtless' protest at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the India Al Impact India Summit 2026 in the national capital by removing their shirts with slogans that read, "Compromised Prime Minister".

In a post on X, Kharge said, "The arrest of our IYC workers is deeply condemnable. A non-violent protest does not justify gruelling interrogation, arrests or intimidation. This heavy-handed response only exposes this fascist government's cowardice. PM has dragged India's r...