Worker protests erupt in India as anger grows over economic policies

Public anger over the economic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified in India, with thousands of workers taking to the streets in protests that turned violent in some areas, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

In the city of Noida, located in Uttar Pradesh, factory workers staged demonstrations demanding higher wages. The protest later escalated into unrest, prompting security forces to intervene.

According to The Times of India, demonstrators set several vehicles on fire during the clashes. Workers said that rising inflation and low wages had made daily life increasingly difficult, leaving them struggling to meet basic needs.

Political reaction to the unrest was swift. Akhilesh Yadav, head of the Samajwadi Party, blamed government policies for the situation, saying that workers were facing severe hardship under the current administration. He argued that policies favouring wealthy business interests had deprived labourers of fair wages.

Meanwhile, Ajay Rai of the Indian National Congress said that public concerns could not be addressed through publicity campaigns alone. He urged the government to accept the legitimate demands of workers without delay.

Analysts noted that growing economic pressure has led to increased unrest, with more workers joining protests in recent weeks. They said the demonstrations reflect wider frustration among ordinary citizens facing rising costs and limited income growth.