A protest organised by the Andaman and Nicobar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party over alleged misconduct at an AI summit in Delhi escalated into a scuffle on Wednesday, leading to a heated faceoff between BJP and Indian National Congress workers in Sri Vijaya Puram.
The protest was held in response to an incident at the summit where, according to BJP leaders, an individual was seen dancing after removing his T-shirt, an act the party alleged reflected poorly on the event. BJP workers staged a demonstration in the islands condemning the incident and linking it to the Congress party.
Tensions rose when BJP workers attempted to burn an effigy of Rahul Gandhi outside the Congress Party office. The move triggered sharp reactions from Congress workers present at the spot, resulting in verbal exchanges and a brief scuffle between the two sides.
Eyewitnesses said the situation became tense as slogans were raised by both groups, with police and local authorities stepping in to prevent the confrontation from escalating further. No serious injuries were reported.
In a counter gesture, Congress workers were seen distributing soft drinks to the protesters while questioning the BJP’s decision to stage demonstrations in the islands over an incident that occurred in the national capital. Congress leaders challenged the BJP to seek explanations directly at the Centre, where the summit was held, instead of holding protests locally.
The incident underscored the sharp political divide between the two parties, with both sides accusing each other of diversionary tactics and politicising the issue. While BJP leaders maintained that the protest was aimed at upholding public decency and accountability, Congress workers dismissed the demonstration as politically motivated.
The episode comes amid heightened political activity in the islands, with national issues increasingly finding local expression through protests and counter-protests by rival parties.
