Delhi: The Congress has sharpened its criticism of the Narendra Modi government following controversy at the India AI Impact Summit, accusing authorities of allowing foreign technology to be showcased as indigenous innovation. The opposition party seized on the episode involving Galgotias University’s robotic dog display to question the credibility of the government’s AI push.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a poorly executed publicity exercise rather than a serious platform for advancing India’s artificial intelligence capabilities.
“Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle — Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased,” he wrote on X.
‘India Made a Global Laughing Stock,’ Says Congress
Earlier, the Congress claimed the controversy had forced authorities to ask the university to vacate the exhibition area, calling it evidence of administrative failure. The party alleged that the episode had damaged India’s reputation internationally, particularly after Chinese media reportedly mocked the presentation of their products as Indian innovations.
The opposition further accused the Modi government of undermining a sector where India has the potential to lead globally due to its vast data and talent pool.
Sharp Words for the Centre and the IT Minister
In a strongly worded statement, the Congress said the situation was “truly embarrassing” and alleged that Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also promoted the disputed robotic technology at the summit.
The party accused the government of causing “irreparable damage” to India’s image and reducing artificial intelligence to a subject of ridicule through what it described as careless promotion.
How the Robot Dog Controversy Began
The row began after Galgotias University showcased a surveillance robot named “Orion” at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. During interactions with the media, the robot was described as part of the university’s ₹350-crore AI initiative.
Online users soon identified the device as the Unitree Go2, a Chinese-manufactured quadruped robot available commercially in India for around ₹2.3 lakh. The revelation triggered widespread criticism on social media.
University Clarification Faces Online Pushback
As the backlash grew, Galgotias University issued a clarification stating that it had not built the robotic dog nor claimed it as its own innovation. The statement said the robot was being used by students for experimentation and learning.
As the controversy escalated at the India AI Impact Summit, organisers reportedly asked Galgotias University to leave its exhibition space, though the university has said it had not received any formal directive to vacate the event as of the latest update.
