New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Centre of mismanagement at the ongoing AI Impact Summit in the national capital, raising concerns over the treatment of participants and the country’s global image.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the event as an example of a “PR hungry” government. In a post on X, he said a global platform meant to showcase India’s digital and artificial intelligence strengths had turned into chaos. He alleged that founders, exhibitors and visitors faced distress, especially on the first day.
Kharge claimed exhibitors were left without food and water. He alleged theft of products and said Digi Yatra systems failed. According to him, organisers barred laptops, electronic devices and even bags. He also said only cash payments were accepted instead of digital or UPI modes. He alleged that founders paid large sums without receiving basic facilities. He termed the situation a global embarrassment and urged the Centre to learn from events such as the Bengaluru Tech Summit, which he said runs smoothly each year.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to the criticism. He said the government apologises for any inconvenience caused to exhibitors. He assured that authorities will address all issues.
The five day summit began on February 16 at Bharat Mandapam. It has drawn thousands of participants, including policymakers, startup founders and global technology leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event. More than 20 heads of state and government are expected to attend.
Reporters at the venue noted long queues and packed sessions. Organisers said registrations exceeded expectations due to high global interest in AI governance and infrastructure.
