BJP MP Slams Zepto CEO’s Remarks on Startup Criticism, Backs Minister Goyal’s Call for Innovation-Driven Growth

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal on Saturday sharply criticized Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha’s response to Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent comments on Indian startups, calling it “misplaced and illogical.”

The remarks came after Mr Goyal, while addressing the Startup Mahakumbh on Thursday, questioned the vision of some Indian startups, especially in the food and grocery delivery sector, for creating low-skill jobs rather than driving transformative innovation.

“Are we going to be happy being delivery boys and girls? Is that the destiny of India?” Goyal had asked, contrasting India’s startup trajectory with China’s advancement in robotics, AI, and 3D manufacturing.

In response, Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha defended his company’s model, citing the creation of 1.5 lakh jobs, over ₹1,000 crore in annual tax payments, and $1 billion in FDI. But Khandelwal dismissed Palicha’s defence, arguing that it misses the core of Goyal’s message.

“Claiming to create jobs and pay taxes while burning foreign capital to dismantle India’s small neighbourhood kirana stores is not innovation,” said Khandelwal.
“This approach is not aligned with India’s long-term strategic interests.”

He emphasized that startups must focus on building foundational technologies and contribute to technological self-reliance, rather than simply serving convenience or disrupting traditional businesses.

Khandelwal added that “innovation must serve the nation,” urging Indian startups to solve real problems that enhance the country’s capabilities and help realize the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The debate unfolded during the Startup Mahakumbh — a four-day event that concluded today — organized by India’s leading startup bodies including FICCI, ASSOCHAM, IVCA, Nasscom, and the Bootstrap Foundation, with support from Startup India, DPIIT, and the National Startup Advisory Council.

This year’s theme focused on charting the vision for India’s startup ecosystem over the next two decades to build a self-reliant and innovation-led economy.