Kamal Haasan has responded to Elon Musk’s allegations about Starlink’s delayed entry into India. The SpaceX CEO had claimed that the satellite internet company was being held back by powerful business interests. Now, the veteran actor shared his reply on X on Friday, saying India will decide its own future.
What Elon Musk alleged
Elon Musk said on Wednesday that Starlink was “blocked by certain oligarchs” in India to protect their “monopolistic chokehold” over the country. He added that the company is licensed in more than 165 countries and had spent five years complying with Indian laws and government requirements. “So why still no license?” he asked. “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” he added.
Kamal Haasan’s reply on competition
Kamal Haasan, who represents Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha, began, “Mr. Musk, yes, no billionaire should dictate a nation’s policy – Indian or American India must welcome competition in satellite internet from Indian and global providers, whoever offers the most practical and affordable last-mile solution for those in remote regions. In countries with lower per-capita incomes, satellite internet must be affordable too. High subscription fees and equipment costs risk putting it beyond the reach of ordinary households. Connectivity must bridge the digital divide, not create a new one.”
National security and double standards
He added, “India knows our networks and spectrum are strategic infrastructure, not merely commercial assets. India’s national security safeguards are non-negotiable.Every country makes choices based on its own interests. Those in the West cannot preach free markets while practising protectionism at home. USA imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect its domestic industry, just as India takes measures to protect its own domestic manufacturers. Both India and the US have restricted Huawei over security concerns. One cannot demand a level playing field from others only when it suits its own agenda.“
Kamal Haasan says, ‘We, Indian people, will decide our own future’
Kamal Haasan also pointed to the BharatNet programme, saying, “We will question why, as the CAG’s 2026 audit report found, the programme is struggling to meet its original objectives. Why were only 33.2% of service-ready Gram Panchayats operational, despite Rs 39,888 crore being spent? At the same time, we know to appreciate our telecom sector and regulations, which has made internet data among the world’s most affordable, bringing millions online.“He concluded, “India is a democracy, not a colony. We welcome the world, but we, the Indian people, will decide our own future – not Western vested interests, their double standards or any billionaire – Indian or American.”
Where Starlink stands in India
Starlink has received a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, but it still awaits security clearance and spectrum assignment before starting commercial services.The Ministry of Communications said on Thursday that suggestions of discrimination in India’s regulatory framework were “baseless and misconceived”. It added, “The Government has put in place a fair and non-discriminatory authorisation framework for all telecommunication services, including satellite communication services.”
