Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent comments questioning the direction of India’s startup ecosystem have ignited a fiery debate. Speaking at Startup Mahakumbh, Goyal asked whether India should settle for building apps that deliver groceries and ice cream while countries like China push the envelope on semiconductors, EVs, and AI.

“Should we make ice cream (delivery apps) or make chips (semiconductors)? Do we just want to sell things?” Goyal questioned, critiquing what he called a focus on “dukaandari.”

While his remarks drew criticism from parts of the startup community, boAT co-founder Aman Gupta came out in support, calling it a motivational push rather than a dismissal. “Piyush Goyal ji isn’t against founders. His point was simple — we’ve come far, now let’s aim higher,” Gupta said.

Founders respond with fire and facts

The statement didn’t land well with all. Zepto co-founder Aadit Palicha defended consumer internet startups, citing job creation, tax contributions, and innovation. “If 1.5 lakh people earning livelihoods on Zepto isn’t Indian innovation, I don’t know what is,” he said in a detailed LinkedIn post.

Others like Ashneer Grover pointed out that even China’s tech evolution began with food delivery and scaled up. “Maybe it’s time politicians aspire for 10%+ GDP growth before chiding job creators,” he quipped.

Industry veterans call for support, not criticism

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai stressed the need for government backing, not belittlement, reminding that policy hurdles like Angel Tax and regulatory blocks have long slowed down India’s deep-tech aspirations. Shaadi.com’s Anupam Mittal echoed the sentiment, saying that while deep-tech startups do exist, they lack capital and commercialization support.

Despite the heat, Goyal stood firm, accusing the Opposition of twisting his remarks, and reaffirmed confidence in Indian youth: “Young Indians are ready to capture the world.”

Amid chants, placards, and impassioned speeches during the largest day of protests since Donald Trump’s return to office, one figure in Washington, D.C. stood out — and it wasn’t a politician. It was Pikachu.

The beloved Pokémon mascot, now apparently moonlighting as a freedom fighter, was spotted bouncing through crowds at the National Mall, joining the wave of resistance against President Trump and his adviser Elon Musk. The appearance comes just days after a similar Pikachu protest scene unfolded in Turkey, where the yellow-costumed figure was seen dodging riot police amid political chaos.

Saturday’s rallies, branded under the “Hands Off!” campaign, spanned all 50 U.S. states, with more than 1,200 protests from Anchorage to Miami. Demonstrators came out in droves to denounce what they see as the Trump administration’s aggressive attempts to gut federal institutions, slash social programs, and muzzle civil liberties.

In Washington, activists took the stage, from Graylan Hagler, who warned, “They’ve woken up a sleeping giant,” to Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, who declared:

“They’re not just attacking policies. They’re attacking people.”

Protesters voiced anger over layoffs, immigration crackdowns, and the rollback of LGBTQ+ protections. Signs reading “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security” were spotted nationwide — though none quite outshone Pikachu, whose appearance went viral within hours.

Criticism wasn’t just aimed at Trump. Much of the fury centered on Elon Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with overseeing sweeping cuts across government programs. Musk’s defenders say he’s saving taxpayers billions. Protesters say he’s turning public service into a pile of “404 errors.”

The White House responded dismissively, insisting Trump is committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — and accused Democrats of threatening these programs by offering them to undocumented immigrants.

Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, speaking at another rally, said:

“I refuse to raise my kids in a country where intimidation replaces leadership and diversity is seen as a threat.”

In a disturbing incident, seven individuals have tragically lost their lives after receiving treatment from a fraudulent cardiologist at a missionary hospital located in the Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh.

In response to this dire situation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated an inquiry aimed at uncovering the circumstances surrounding this medical malpractice. A team of NHRC officials, led by member Priyank Kanoongo, is scheduled to visit Damoh from April 7 to 9 to investigate the incident and determine accountability for those involved.

The matter came to light when a local resident lodged a complaint with the NHRC, claiming that an individual identifying himself as ‘Dr N John Camm’—who purported to have overseas qualifications—was practicing at the hospital. The complainant identified this individual as Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, who allegedly misrepresented himself by using the name of eminent UK cardiologist Professor John Camm to mislead patients.

According to the complaint, patients suffered fatal consequences due to the improper treatment administered by Yadav. Kanoongo posted on X last Friday, noting that seven individuals had died at the missionary hospital in Damoh due to care provided by this impersonating doctor.

The complaint also revealed that the hospital, which participates in the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, was involved in the misuse of government resources. Consequently, the NHRC has prioritized this investigation.

Kanoongo stated, “The NHRC team will be stationed in Damoh from April 7 to 9 to conduct their investigation. Any victims or individuals with information regarding the case are encouraged to meet with the investigation team in Damoh.”

The allegation was made by Deepak Tiwari, a resident of Jabalpur Naka, who reported that between January and February this year, numerous patients died as a result of treatment from an unqualified and unauthorized doctor in the cardiology department at the Mission Hospital in Damoh.

It was indicated that Yadav had been practicing under the name ‘Dr N John Camm’ for approximately one and a half months before the complaints surfaced. Damoh’s collector, Sudhir Kochar, has confirmed that a complaint has been lodged and is currently under review, stating that further actions will depend on the findings of the investigation.