‘Anarchists’ vs ‘dignity’: Mohandas Pai, Raghav Chadha trade barbs over gig worker strikes

A heated war of words has broken out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha and Eng Pai, the former CFO of Infosys and chairman of Manipal Global Education, reflecting widening fault lines in India’s debate over freelancing, platform accountability, and workers’ rights.

The exchange followed nationwide protests by major food delivery partners and express commerce platforms, who went on strike to demand better wages, safety protections and social security. While Chada framed the protests as a legitimate call for dignity and justice, Bey rejected the demands as unrealistic and accused the AKP of promoting “anarchistic” methods.

“Temporary work is flexible, not permanent work.”

In response to Chadha’s criticism of platform companies, Pai took to X (formally Twitter) to reject what he called “ridiculous claims” and warned against threatening companies or ceasing operations.

“Freelance work is not always regular work. It gives flexibility – people can work, and not work as they choose, choosing their line of work, and when they work,” Pai wrote, arguing that this flexibility is exactly what makes gig platforms viable.

Pai said delivery workers already receive accident insurance, medical insurance and incentives, and questioned demands for a fixed minimum income of Rs 40,000 per month. Instead, he proposed integrating freelancers into government social security schemes intended for economically weaker sections.

With his call for the Centre, Pai urged the government of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to include workers in existing welfare programmes, while criticizing the strikes and alleged intimidation of workers who chose not to participate. “Striking, threatening workers who want to work, spreading propaganda against employers, and creating hatred is not the right way,” he wrote.

“Flexibility without accountability is control.”

However, Chadha doubled down on his criticism of platform companies, arguing that the strike revealed deeper structural problems in the gig economy. In a lengthy post, the Rajya Sabha MP said delivery partners demand “basic dignity, fair wages, safety, predictable rules and social security”, not disruption.

“The response from the podium has been to call them ‘scoundrels’ and turn the demand for action into a law and order rhetoric. This is not just insulting, it is dangerous,” Chadha wrote.

He rejected the argument that continued participation in self-employment proves justice, and compared it to historical systems of exploitation that persisted because workers lacked alternatives. “When one day’s income determines a child’s rent, electricity or school fees, signing on on strike day is not consent. It is survival,” he said.

Chadha also raised concerns about opaque pay algorithms, sudden changes in incentives, and lack of grievance redressal. According to him, platforms exercise “control without accountability” by disabling workers without hearings and penalizing them for factors beyond their control, such as traffic, weather or app malfunctions.

Safety, transparency and political currents

Beyond wages, Chad cited road safety as a public concern, claiming that delivery timelines and incentive structures reward speed at the expense of human life. “When we celebrate a 10-minute delivery, we should ask who pays the price when something goes wrong,” he said.

The MP also alleged a coordinated PR campaign by platform companies to counter criticism, alleging influencers and talking points appeared simultaneously online. “PR agencies got paid. Influencers got paid. Hashtags were bought. The only people still waiting for fair payment are the ones who deliver your orders,” he wrote.

Denying the personal attacks against him, Chadha said the focus should remain on the living conditions of workers, and not on the lifestyles of those raising the issue. He added: “If we were given more, it is our duty to demand justice for those who gave us less.”