Gig Worker Strike Ignites 'Champagne Socialist' Row: Business Leaders Hit Back

• Sanjeev Bikhchandani attacked "champagne socialists" for hypocrisy in supporting gig workers, backing Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal's defense of the gig economy.
• Deepinder Goyal argued the gig economy makes class inequality visible, warning that over-regulation would remove livelihoods and restore workers' invisibility.
• The debate follows a large-scale strike by app-based delivery workers protesting low pay, aggressive delivery timelines, and automated penalties.
• Akhilesh Mishra warned against aggressive pro-worker politics, citing Kanpur's industrial decline as a cautionary tale for India's tech sector.
• Goyal concluded the controversy exposes a deeper societal truth about confronting guilt over economic disparities.

Why It Matters: Gig worker strike sparks fierce debate on class, exploitation, and the future of India's gig economy.