Congress president Shashi Tharoor hailed the ongoing summit on India’s AI impact at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. The former Union minister said the first few days of the big event went “extremely well” and that “some glitches” are inevitable at any big event.
Tharoor said the participation of presidents, prime ministers and world leaders who came with a strong message that they want to see a newly integrated world in the development of artificial intelligence is impressive.
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For some glitches. Tharoor said such problems can happen at big events. Tharoor’s remarks came on Thursday, a day when his party leader and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi called the AI summit in Delhi a “disorganized PR spectacle” and alleged that Chinese products were being showcased there.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders also criticized the move, saying the alleged mismanagement had led to “embarrassment” for the country.
“In a big event, glitches happen”
“Though I didn’t get a chance to go to the summit, I am speaking there on Friday. From what I understand, these first few days have gone very well. There have been some glitches, some organizational things, these things happen at a big event,” Tharoor told reporters after launching his new book on Narayana Guru.
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held in Delhi from February 16 to February 20 and is the first global The AI Summit will be held in the Global South. The summit attracted government policymakers, AI experts, academics, technology innovators and civil society representatives from around the world to advance global discussions on AI.
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“But overall what has been impressive is the participation … there are a number of presidents, prime ministers and world leaders and they have come with a strong message that they want to see a newly integrated world in AI development where social impact is the principle,” Tharoor said.
“The bias in India clearly leads in this area,” he added.
What were the controversies?
Organizers and exhibitors faced inconveniences on the opening day (February 17) of the AI Impact Summit, including long queues, dense crowds and logistical problems.
Many visitors complained that several gates were closed without instructions from security personnel. For the next two days, February 18 and 19, everything went smoothly.
But the biggest row came when Greater Noida-based Galgotias University was asked to leave the India AI Impact Summit exhibition area after facing a lot of backlash online for showcasing a robotic dog named ‘Orion’ at the event. During the summit, university representatives and a professor were filmed claiming the robot was in-house in-house.
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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also skipped his keynote speech, reportedly because of the controversy surrounding his name being linked to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
MANAV Vision for AI
on Thursday Prime Minister Narendra Modi he emphasized the need to democratize artificial intelligence while calling for a transparent approach to data sharing.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of The India AI Impact Summit 2026, PM Modi he also presented India’s MANAV vision for artificial intelligence, which he said will serve as a vital link in improving the well-being of humanity.
The participation of presidents, prime ministers and world leaders… is impressive.
“Today at the New Delhi AI Impact Summit, I am presenting the MANAV Vision for AI. MANAV stands for human and MANAV Vision says M-moral and ethical systems: AI should be based on ethical leadership. A-accountable governance means transparent rules, strong oversight; N-national sovereignty means A-intermediation whose data should be accessible, should not have a right to AI.” monopoly V- valid and legitimate means that artificial intelligence should be legal and verifiable This vision of MANAV will become an important link for the well-being of humanity in a world based on artificial intelligence. 21st century,” Modi said at the event.