The ongoing labor unrest in Noida took a sensational turn on Monday as Uttar Pradesh Labor Minister Anil Rajbhar alleged a “Pakistan-backed conspiracy” behind the violent clashes. As the protest for wage hikes spiraled into arson and stone-pelting, police arrested 350 individuals and detained over 100 suspects for questioning.

Minister Rajbhar linked the violence to the recent arrest of four terror suspects with Pakistani ties in Meerut and Noida, claiming the unrest was a calculated move to derail Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s programs. While nearly 45,000 workers were on the streets, Police Commissioner Lakshmi Singh noted that external elements infiltrated the crowd to incite violence after the peaceful protest ended.

To restore order, paramilitary forces were deployed, and tear gas was used to disperse the mob. The administration has clarified that 4 out of 5 major demands of the workers have already been met, and a high-level committee is addressing the rest. While the government remains open to dialogue, it has sent a stern warning against anti-national forces attempting to destabilize the state under the guise of labor movements.