Rahul Gandhi Stands with Noida Workers, Decries Wage Injustice and Inflation
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed strong support for protesting factory workers in Uttar Pradesh's Noida, describing their demonstration as the "final cry" of India's labor force. In a detailed social media post on X, Gandhi emphasized that the workers' demand for a monthly wage of ₹20,000 is not an act of greed but a fundamental right essential for their survival.
The Plight of Workers Amid Soaring Costs
Gandhi highlighted the harsh realities faced by Noida's workers, noting that many earn a meager ₹12,000 per month while grappling with rents ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹7,000. He pointed out the stark disparity where annual wage increments of a mere ₹300 are overshadowed by landlords hiking rents by ₹500 yearly. "Until wages rise, this runaway inflation chokes life, drowning people in debt – this is the truth of 'Developed India'," he stated.
He further illustrated the crisis by quoting a female worker who lamented, "Gas prices keep going up, but our wages don't." Gandhi added that such individuals might have paid ₹5,000 for a gas cylinder just to cook at home during the ongoing fuel crisis, underscoring the global context of rising fuel prices and disrupted supply chains due to conflicts in West Asia.
Criticism of Global Economic Pressures and Labour Codes
Gandhi accused the government of shielding big industrialists from global economic shocks while daily wage workers bear the brunt. "America's tariff wars, global inflation, and crumbling supply chains haven't affected Modi ji's 'friendly' industrialists, but the heaviest blow lands on the worker who eats only when they earn," he asserted.
He also launched a scathing critique of the Modi government's implementation of four Labour Codes, set to take effect in November 2025. Gandhi claimed these codes were introduced hastily without proper consultation, extending work hours to 12 hours daily. "Is it unreasonable for a worker standing 12 hours a day, yet taking on debt for their children's school fees, to demand their rights?" he questioned, labeling the suppression of workers' rights as antithetical to true development.
Ongoing Protests and Government Response
The protests in Noida continued on Tuesday despite the Uttar Pradesh government announcing a wage hike. Workers have been demanding an increase in minimum wages, with tensions escalating into violence on Monday after clashes with police. Protesters pelted stones and torched vehicles, leading to over 300 arrests, as confirmed by Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh.
Earlier, a high-level committee formed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath raised interim minimum wages by approximately 21% for workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, following massive demonstrations in Noida Phase 2. However, this move has failed to quell the unrest, with many workers deeming it insufficient.
Gandhi concluded by reaffirming his solidarity, stating, "Noida's workers are demanding ₹20,000. This isn't greed – it's their right, the sole foundation of their lives. I stand with every such worker, who is the backbone of this country and whom this government has come to see as a burden." His remarks underscore a deepening political divide over labor rights and economic policies in India.
