In a sharp exchange on social media, Infor Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani endorsed Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal ’s defense of the gig economy while taking a dig at what he described as “elite hypocrisy.”
Goyal’s post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted how the gig economy has disrupted centuries-old class divides by bringing workers directly into contact with consumers. He argued that, historically, labor from the poor remained invisible to the wealthy, allowing consumption without moral reckoning. Gig workers, from delivery partners to quick-commerce staff, now face consumers daily, exposing the realities of their labor.
“Suddenly, the poor aren’t hidden away. They’re at your doorstep: handing over ₹1,000+ biryani, late-night groceries, or quick-commerce essentials. You see their exhaustion, their polite smile masking frustration with life,” Goyal wrote.
Goyal emphasized that banning gig work would not reduce inequality but rather remove vital livelihoods. “These jobs don’t magically reappear as formal employment. Over-regulate until the model breaks, and the people we claim to protect are the first to lose income,” he added.
Bikhchandani amplified Goyal’s argument, criticizing critics he labeled as “champagne socialists” who, despite leading privileged lives, express moral outrage over gig work. He wrote on X:
“Every word is true. It beggars belief that a Champagne Socialist who married a film star and had a designer wedding in Udaipur and a first anniversary in Maldives has the audacity to shed crocodile tears around alleged exploitation of gig workers. Aam Aadmi my foot.”
The debate underscores the complexity of regulating the gig economy, balancing worker protections with the realities of employment opportunities in India’s fast-growing digital and service sectors.
