BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
A delegation of the Samajwadi Party, sent on the instructions of party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was stopped by police while on its way to meet distressed workers in Noida. The delegation was led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey and included several senior party leaders, MLAs, and former ministers. According to the party, the purpose of the visit was to understand the grievances of workers in the Noida industrial area and raise their concerns at the state level. However, before the delegation could depart, police allegedly attempted to confine many leaders to their homes.
Despite this, they left their residences and proceeded toward Noida, only to be stopped on the way and denied permission to continue. The incident has sparked criticism from the Samajwadi Party, which called the police action undemocratic and an attack on the rights of elected representatives. Party leaders said preventing them from meeting workers reflected an attempt to silence genuine labour issues. The controversy comes amid serious allegations regarding the treatment of industrial workers in Noida. It is claimed that many labourers are being made to work 10 to 12 hours daily for monthly wages of just ₹10,000 to ₹11,000, without even receiving weekly holidays.
Workers have reportedly been demanding better wages and overtime payments for a long time. The issue gained further attention after employees of Motherson India Limited in Noida Phase-2 staged a peaceful protest over their demands. Reports suggest that authorities attempted to suppress the protest, with allegations of misbehavior and baton charge against workers. The Samajwadi Party said its delegation wanted to stand with the workers, listen to their problems, and ensure their voices reached the government. The party strongly condemned the police action and vowed to continue fighting for workers’ rights, dignity, and justice through democratic means.
