Noida workers’ unrest: UP govt forms high-level panel to resolve wage dispute after violent protests

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna said police are identifying elements who allegedly instigated violence during the protests and warned that strict action will be taken against them. “Firm legal action will follow once their identities are established,” Krishna said.

Officials said the DGP along with senior officers, including Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, were monitoring the situation in Noida from the police headquarters control room.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged concerns over a possible “larger conspiracy” to revive Naxalism and directed authorities to remain vigilant against “disruptive elements”.

In a statement issued after a high-level review meeting in Lucknow on Sunday night, the Chief Minister said that while labour welfare remains the government’s top priority, there are indications that “certain forces” may be attempting to exploit worker unrest to disturb law and order.

“Desh mein naxalvaad ab lagbhag samaapti ki sthiti mein hai, kintu ise punarjeevit karne ke prayas ek badi saazish ka hissa ho sakte hain. Haal hi ke kuch pradarshanon mein bhraamak evam vighatanakari tatvon ke shamil hone ki aashanka hai (Naxalism in the country is now nearly finished, but attempts to revive it could be part of a larger conspiracy. There is a possibility that misleading and disruptive elements were involved in some recent protests),” said Adityanath in a statement late on Sunday night.

‘Regime favours capitalists’: Oppn hits out

Reacting to the protests, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav blamed the BJP government’s “one-sided policies” and alleged the regime favours capitalists while neglecting salaried employees and labourers.

In a post on X, Yadav said the agitation over wage hike had turned aggressive due to policies that “nurture capitalists but exploit workers”. He alleged that while funds continue to flow towards “donor capitalists”, workers are deprived of fair wages.

“In times of rising inflation, it is extremely difficult for a family to survive on low wages. Only someone running a household can understand this,” he said, adding that salaried employees no longer want the BJP.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai also slammed the government over the handling of the situation. “When inflation is breaking people’s backs and workers are being exploited in the name of wages, the youth will be forced to come out on the streets,” Rai said in a post on X.

“Advertisements cannot fill empty stomachs. Tear gas shells cannot answer hunger. Stop ignoring the legitimate demands of workers and find a solution instead of resorting to repression,” he added.