While laborers protested in Noida on Monday and Tuesday over minimum wage demands, police sources said the agitation was not spontaneous and was instead the result of an orchestrated conspiracy, ANI reported.
On Monday, workers resorted to stone pelting and several vehicles were also burnt after an altercation with police officials.
According to ANI quoting police sources, about 350 suspects have been arrested so far. Authorities said the arson was carried out in a “methodical and pre-planned manner”.
Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh said seven FIRs have been registered in connection with the protests. She also said that marches were carried out in the morning to maintain law and order.
WhatsApp groups, QR code: Police say organized riots
“The marches on the route were conducted continuously since 5 am. The workers assembled at three places this morning; after an immediate dialogue, they were dispersed peacefully in just 15 minutes,” Singh said, according to ANI.
She also revealed that several WhatsApp groups have been created in the past few days and workers are being added using QR codes.
“Over the past two days, several WhatsApp groups have been created through which workers are being added by scanning QR codes. This indicates that an organized and well-organized syndicate is active behind these activities,” Singh said.
Read also | Uttar Pradesh approves 21% wage hike after violent protests by Noida workers
The commissioner also said the police were investigating whether any of the people allegedly behind the violence had received funds from abroad or within the country.
“Certain elements in the mob involved in such acts have been identified and arrested; further arrests will be made in due course. Their sources of funding will also be investigated; if it is found that they have received financial assistance from abroad or from within the country, appropriate action will also be initiated in this regard,” she said.
Uttar Pradesh Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC) Deepak Kumar said on Tuesday that the protesting workers said the violence was perpetrated by foreigners. According to ANI, Kumar said, “We spoke to the workers yesterday and (the talks) will continue. The workers said their wages should be increased due to inflation. They said all the violence and arson was done by outsiders, not locals. 11 people were arrested.”
He also said that the Adityanath government is committed to address the concerns of the employees.
“You are aware of the CM’s commitment to make the state number one in every sector. He is determined to bring the best policies for job creation. After this incident happened, the CM formed a committee for this,” Kumar said.
Kumar also flagged misinformation on wage issues and said, “There was a disinformation campaign going on all over Delhi NCR saying that the Government of India had ₹20,000 as minimum wage. The fact is that the Government of India is carrying out this process according to its codes and laws.”
A problem-solving committee was formed, wages were increased
A high-level committee constituted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday raised the interim minimum wages by about 21 percent for workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad following massive protests in Noida Phase 2.
According to the Noida DM office, provisional wages for unskilled workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad have been increased from ₹11,313 to ₹13,690 per month; from ₹12,445 to ₹15,059 for semi-skilled workers and from ₹13,940 to ₹16,868 for skilled workers. Current rates are valid from April 1st.
In districts with urban enterprises, the monthly wages for unskilled workers were raised to ₹13,006, for medium-skilled workers up to ₹14,306 and for qualified workers up to ₹16,025.
In other districts wages were increased to ₹12,356, ₹13,591 a ₹15,224 for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers, according to the DM’s office.
State Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ said a committee formed by the UP government is holding discussions with the workers to resolve the issues. Gupta accused the Samajwadi Party and Congress of conspiring to disrupt the law and order situation in the state.
Read also | Noida violence Phase 2: Delhi Police seals Upper Border after arson, stone pelting
In a statement, the state minister said, “Our government has taken the matter very seriously. A panel of senior government officials has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Industrial Development Commissioner… The anarchic and violent elements of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress have repeatedly conspired under the guise of such protests to disturb peace and order in the state. On the face of it, it cannot be denied that they have played an unseemly role in the superpower.”
The statement read: “The committee formed by the government is meeting with representatives of trade unions, industry groups and all parties concerned. After detailed discussion and due consideration of all points, a suitable solution to the problem will be reached as soon as possible. Any anti-social element challenging this identity and environment will face such action that people for seven generations shudder at the mention of the crime. I appeal to all parties to exercise restraint and patience.”
