A war of words over business interests and national policy has brought together two actors-turned-politicians from different ends of the political spectrum. While the debate began with a global tech billionaire questioning India’s regulatory process, the responses have turned the spotlight on who gets to decide the country’s economic priorities.
The exchange also comes amid a larger debate over the entry of global companies into India and the balance between welcoming competition and protecting national interests. The question of whether powerful business figures can influence policy has now become a talking point beyond the telecommunications sector. Kamal Haasan's response to Elon Musk, and Kangana Ranaut's reaction to the former, has now become a talking point.
Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan’s response to Elon Musk’s criticism of the delay in launching Starlink’s satellite internet services in India has received support from actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. Reacting to Kamal's post on X on Friday, Kangana wrote, “Ouch!! That must hurt @elonmusk,” before adding, “No billionaire should dictate a nation’s policy - Indian or American. Well said and well explained. Sharp, on point and sarcastic.”
Kamal had addressed Musk directly, arguing that India should welcome competition in satellite internet, provided services are affordable and accessible, particularly in remote areas. He cautioned that high subscription fees and equipment costs could put the technology beyond the reach of ordinary households, adding, “Connectivity must bridge the digital divide, not create a new one.”
The actor-politician also defended India’s right to frame its own policies, stressing that telecommunications networks and spectrum are strategic infrastructure and that national security safeguards are non-negotiable. He challenged what he described as Western double standards on free-market competition, pointing to the United States’ tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and restrictions on Huawei as examples of countries protecting their own interests.
“Indians will internally debate, question and address our strengths and shortcomings as a democratic country,” Haasan wrote, citing the shortcomings of the BharatNet programme while also acknowledging the affordability of internet data in India. He concluded, “India is a democracy, not a colony. We welcome the world, but we, the Indian people, will decide our own future.”
The exchange began after Musk alleged that Starlink was being blocked by powerful business interests to protect existing players. He questioned the delay despite the company’s claims of having complied with Indian requirements for years, and asked whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India”.
The Indian government has rejected allegations of discriminatory treatment, stating that Starlink and two other licensed satellite communication operators are at a similar stage in the approval process, with security requirements and spectrum-related steps still pending. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has also said that the operators must fulfil the required security conditions before commencing commercial services.