Stories
India is not a colony: Kamal Haasan slams Elon Musk over Starlink license controversy
- •Actor Kamal Haasan delivered a sharp response to Elon Musk stating that no billionaire should dictate national policy for India or America.
- •Musk had previously questioned India's delay in granting a license to Starlink on the platform X.
- •Haasan emphasized that India's networks and spectrum are strategic infrastructure and national security cannot be compromised.
- •He also highlighted Western double standards, noting that the US imposes heavy tariffs and bans companies like Huawei for security.
- •Reiterating India's sovereignty, Haasan concluded that India welcomes global competition but Indians will determine their own future.
Key Questions Answered
Kamal Haasan sharply replied to Elon Musk after the billionaire questioned why Starlink had not yet received an Indian operating license and sarcastically asked if Ambani was India's real boss. Haasan stated that no billionaire should dictate a country's policy and that India is a democracy rather than a colony.
Kamal Haasan emphasized that India's networks and spectrum are strategic infrastructure rather than mere commercial assets, meaning national security arrangements cannot be compromised. He noted that both India and the US previously banned Huawei over security concerns and that Western countries protect their own industries.
Kamal Haasan asserted that satellite internet must remain affordable in low per-income countries to bridge the digital divide rather than create a new one. He warned that high subscription fees and equipment costs would put the service out of reach for ordinary households, noting that India's telecom sector has successfully made data the cheapest in the world.
