Electricity department employees demonstrated Offering prayers to God in front of fire’ During their three-day strike on March 17, 2023 in Varanasi. , Photo Credit: PTI

Disruption in power supply during a program of two ministers of the Uttar Pradesh government in Greater Noida on March 19 sparked a statewide protest by a section of employees of the electricity department.

According to a person who attended the event, there was a disruption for about two minutes at the India Expo Center and Mart, after which power supply was resumed through generators at the venue.

The power glitch had left the event hall – containing two ministers and scores of spectators – in the dark, the person said, with purported video clips of the episode surfacing on social media.

UP Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta and MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan arrive for the curtain raiser event of the first UP International Trade Show at Expo Center and Mart on the morning of March 19, according to an official press release.

There was no immediate response from local government officials on the disruption in power supply.

A section of employees of the electricity department across Uttar Pradesh has been on strike since March 17, disrupting power supply in various areas.

The employees have alleged that some of their demands related to wage anomalies and outsourcing of operation and maintenance of power sub-stations, sanctioned by the state government in December last year, have not been met by the power corporations even after three months.

Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister AK Sharma had warned of stern action against workers who went on strike on March 18, but said the government was trying to hold talks with the protesters to end the impasse.