Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a strong attack on the government led by Yogi Adityanath over the unrest triggered by a workers’ protest in Noida, accusing the administration of mishandling the situation and unfairly shifting blame onto labourers.

Taking to X, Yadav dismissed the government’s suggestion that the protest could be part of a larger conspiracy, questioning how intelligence agencies failed to anticipate the developments if such claims were credible. He alleged that instead of addressing the concerns of workers, the authorities were attempting to discredit the agitation by linking it to external or extremist influences.

Yadav also highlighted the economic strain faced by common citizens, pointing to rising prices, alleged corruption, and the lack of adequate relief measures. He urged the state leadership to prioritise resolving workers’ issues, cautioning that continued administrative failures could lead to public backlash and political consequences.

The political exchange followed a flare-up in Noida’s Phase 2 industrial area, where a demonstration by factory workers escalated into violence. Protesters demanding better wages and improved working conditions reportedly set a vehicle on fire, damaged nearby property, and hurled stones, creating panic in the locality. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers, and tear gas was used to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

Workers involved in the agitation claimed that many are paid less than ₹15,000 per month despite working shifts extending up to 12 hours a day. Among their key demands were the implementation of an eight-hour workday, timely salary payments, overtime compensation, weekly holidays, bonuses, and a proper system to address grievances. Sources indicate that a recent minimum wage increase in neighbouring Haryana has further intensified similar demands among workers in Noida. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely as tensions persist in the industrial belt.