Pro-startups, not pro-exploitation: Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha reacts to Eternal CEO remarks

Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha hit back at food delivery platforms and argued that the portrayal of protesting workers as "miscreants" and relying on police deployment to maintain operations reflects a deeper failure of the gig model.

“If you needed police to have your workers stay on the road, they're not employees. They're hostages with helmets,” he said.

In a post on X on Saturday, Chadha rejected recent statements made by Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal, who defended the gig model by citing rising earnings and flexible work patterns.



“And apparently asking for fair pay is politics now,” Chadha said. “Strange how everything becomes a political agenda the moment it threatens margins or stock prices.”

Chadha said low average participation depicts the insecurity of the job, and maintained that labour protections are necessary.

"Flexibility is not an exemption from labour rights," he said.

Terming himself as pro-startups, Chadha said he supported startups and innovation but would oppose "exploitation dressed as progress."

“I want Indian startups to scale. I am not here for agitation or disruption. I want these businesses to grow leaps and bounds, but not on the backs of the people who keep them running,” he said. (sic)

Further, he emphasised that record orders by platforms (unnamed) cannot measure dignity and flawed systems.

Also Read: Zomato delivery partners’ hourly earnings rose 10.9% in 2025, union questions ‘decent work’ claims

The Aam Aadmi Party MP also questioned claims on road safety risks, stating that incentive structures, ratings, penalties, and fear of order loss influence behaviour even without visible timers.

He added that insurance spending, accident coverage, and limited medical payouts do not amount to social security and cannot replace pensions, predictable income, or due process in grievance redressal.

Chadha further unleashed paid PR defences and claimed platforms made personal calls seeking favourable posts, which turned to personal attacks when arguments failed.

“Do not waste time debating my lifestyle. Focus on improving the lifestyle of gig workers. I have been fortunate, and that’s exactly why I will use my position to raise these demands.”

Also Read: Internet splits over Deepinder Goyal’s comments on gig economy after strike