Step down if you can't manage state: Akhilesh to Yogi after 'conspiracy' remark

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to step down if he was unable to manage the state, intensifying a political confrontation over the violent workers’ protests in Noida.

Yadav’s remarks came in response to Adityanath’s statement suggesting a possible “conspiracy” behind the agitation.

In a post on X, Yadav questioned whether the state’s intelligence machinery had failed if the protests were indeed part of a conspiracy.

“If this is true, was your intelligence police accompanying you to campaign in Bengal… or under its influence?” he said in a sharp remark.

He also criticised attempts to link the workers’ agitation to Naxalism.

“Before tarnishing the workers’ movement with allegations of Naxalism, explain what you have done in the last 10 years that has led to such conditions,” he said.

Yadav accused the BJP government of worsening economic distress, saying inflation and “commission-driven dealings” had burdened families.

“If you can’t manage the state, then step down with dignity; otherwise, the public will throw you out,” he said.

Yogi urges calm, warns against instigators

Adityanath, speaking at a public event in Muzaffarnagar, appealed to workers to maintain peace and cautioned against elements trying to incite unrest.

“Uttar Pradesh is progressing steadily but some people are conspiring against this growth,” he said.

He urged workers to recall the government’s support during the COVID-19 period and said the administration remains committed to both workers and industry.

“The government stands firmly with the workers and will provide security to the entrepreneur while also protecting every worker,” he said.

He also asked industrialists to maintain dialogue with employees and highlighted measures aimed at ensuring minimum wages and social security.

Violence in Noida

The political exchange follows unrest in Noida, where protests by factory workers demanding a wage hike turned violent in areas including Phase-2, Sector 60, Sector 62 and Sector 84.

The protests saw:

• Stone-pelting and vandalism

• Vehicles set on fire

• Disruption of traffic and public movement

Police said the situation is under control with heavy deployment across industrial zones.

Measures announced

The administration has announced steps to address workers’ concerns, including:

• Double overtime wages

• Weekly offs

• Bonuses as per rules

Officials said efforts are underway to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation.

The Noida unrest has triggered a wider political debate, with the opposition linking the protests to economic distress and the government attributing the violence to instigators, even as investigations continue.