Divya Delhi : Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk and Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), has criticized Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha’s response to Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s remarks at the recent Startup Mahakumbh, labeling it as “misplaced and illogical.During the Startup Mahakumbh, Minister Goyal urged Indian startups to pivot from quick-commerce and convenience-based applications toward deep-tech innovations that address national priorities . Mr Khandelwal calling it as a genuine concern said that in the wake of rapid innovations taking place across the world, the startup’s must focus in technology areas rather than engaging themselves in already established business streams.In defense of Zepto’s business model, CEO Aadit Palicha highlighted the company’s contributions, including the creation of approximately 150,000 jobs, annual tax payments exceeding ₹1,000 crore, and attracting over $1 billion in foreign direct investment.MP Khandelwal dismissed Palicha’s defense as missing the essence of Minister Goyal’s message. He stated, “Claiming to create jobs and pay taxes while burning foreign capital to dismantle India’s small neighborhood kirana stores is not innovation. This approach is not aligned with India’s long-term strategic interests.Khandelwal emphasized the necessity for startups to contribute to India’s technological self-reliance and global leadership, rather than pursuing short-term commercial gains at the expense of traditional businesses. He added, “Innovation must serve the nation, not just convenience. We need startups that solve real problems and build foundational technologies to drive India’s future.”The discourse underscores a broader debate within India’s startup ecosystem about balancing rapid commercial success with the pursuit of deep-tech innovation that can position India as a leader in advanced technologies.