Stories
S Gurumurthy Questions Elon Musk's Motives in India Amid Starlink Row
- •Journalist and commentator S Gurumurthy has questioned Elon Musk's motives regarding Starlink's approval process in India.
- •Gurumurthy accused Musk of playing politics in India and argued that he cannot be trusted with access to critical national security infrastructure.
- •The criticism follows Musk's heavy involvement in political affairs in the US, including spending over $250 million to support Donald Trump's 2024 campaign.
- •Musk has also faced backlash for meddling in the politics of the UK, Germany, and Ireland through controversial statements and social media posts.
- •Zoho Corporation's Sridhar Vembu also weighed in, highlighting India's competitive economy and criticizing Musk's duplicity.
Key Questions Answered
S Gurumurthy raised concerns over Elon Musk's motives, arguing that his extensive involvement in political affairs across the US, Europe, and the UK makes him appear more like a politician than a businessman, posing a risk to India's critical communication infrastructure and national security.
Critics pointed out that Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars—specifically $259 million—to support Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. He also faced backlash for meddling in European politics, including making controversial remarks about UK leadership, German far-right politics, and Irish hate speech legislation.
While telecommunications companies have received their licenses, satellite communication operators like Starlink must still fulfill stringent security requirements and obtain mandatory security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs before receiving final approval.
