India is not a colony: Kamal Haasan hits back at Elon Musk amid Starlink row

Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan responded to Elon Musk’s allegations that business interests were blocking Starlink’s launch in India, saying no billionaire, Indian or American, should dictate a nation’s policy.“India is a democracy, not a colony. We welcome the world, but we, the Indian people, will decide our own future,” he said on X.Musk had accused “certain oligarchs” of blocking his satellite internet company to maintain their “monopolistic chokehold." He later asked whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India”.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi weighed in with a cryptic reply: “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.” Musk thanked him, saying: “This is indeed troubling.” The government rejected Musk’s allegations, saying the approval process was fair and non-discriminatory.The Ministry of Communications said Starlink, Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb had licences, but all three needed to complete security assessments and obtain spectrum-related approvals before starting commercial services.AFFORDABILITY, SECURITY MUST COME FIRST Haasan backed competition from Indian and global providers offering practical, affordable connectivity to remote regions. But he warned that high subscription fees and equipment costs could put satellite internet beyond ordinary households’ reach.“Connectivity must bridge the digital divide, not create a new one,” he said.Describing networks and spectrum as strategic infrastructure, Haasan said India’s national security safeguards were “non-negotiable”.HAASAN FLAGS WEST’S ‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’Haasan accused Western countries of advocating free markets abroad while protecting domestic industries at home. He cited the US’s 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and restrictions imposed by both India and the US on Huawei over security concerns.“One cannot demand a level playing field from others only when it suits its own agenda,” he said.Haasan said Indians would scrutinise domestic shortcomings, citing a CAG audit that found only 33.2% of service-ready gram panchayats operational under BharatNet despite spending Rs 39,888 crore.However, he also credited India’s telecom sector and regulations with making data affordable and bringing millions online.India’s future, he said, would be decided by its people, not “Western vested interests, their double standards or any billionaire, Indian or American”.- Ends