MEERUT, Feb. 22 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the Congress over its "shirtless" protest during the recent AI summit in New Delhi, accusing the opposition of turning an international platform into what he described as "dirty and naked politics".

Addressing a public rally in Meerut after inaugurating development projects, including the Namo Bharat rapid rail service and the Meerut Metro Rail extension, he referred to demonstrations held a day earlier at Bharat Mandapam, where members of the Indian Youth Congress protested during the international AI gathering attended by delegates from over 80 countries and nearly 20 heads of state.

Asserting that the protest embarrassed India on the global stage, the Prime Minister al...