Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha strongly criticised food and delivery platforms after delivery partners across India went on strike demanding fair wages, social security, safety measures and predictable work policies. Chadha said the companies’ decision to label protesting workers as “miscreants” and frame the issue as a law-and-order problem rather than a labour concern was “insulting and dangerous”.Chadha said that if platforms required police presence to keep operations running on their biggest business day, it was a sign of a failing model.
Fair Pay, Not Policing Needed
“Workers asking for fair pay are not criminals. If you need police to keep them on the road, they are not employees, they are hostages with helmets,” he said. Emphasising that he supports startups and entrepreneurship, Chadha said he would never endorse “exploitation disguised as progress”. He added that questioning unfair systems was not politics but accountability. Highlighting road safety concerns, Chadha said incentive structures that push delivery workers to rush for faster deliveries put not only workers but also the public at risk.
Stop PR Spin, Ensure Dignity
Chadha also alleged a coordinated PR and influencer campaign to discredit the strike, claiming platforms funded narratives to silence criticism. He urged companies to prioritise fair pay, social security, insurance, transparency in incentives and grievance mechanisms with due process. Calling gig workers the “invisible wheels of India’s economy”, Chadha said true progress lies in ensuring dignity, safety and stability for those who keep platforms functioning. He vowed to continue raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament until accountability is ensured.Stop PR Spin, Ensure Dignity
