New Delhi: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised Elon Musk over his remarks questioning the influence of a leading Indian industrialist, saying that opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not mean allowing a foreign businessman to dictate India’s decisions.
Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Thursday, Owaisi said he had consistently opposed Modi but questioned Musk’s comments about India’s political leadership. He argued that the country should independently determine its economic and regulatory policies.
The controversy began after Musk criticised delays in approving Starlink, his satellite internet service, for commercial operations in India. He alleged that powerful business interests were obstructing the company’s entry into the Indian market and questioned the influence of major industrialists over government decisions.
The Indian government has said satellite communications operators must undergo security assessments and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals before launching commercial services. Authorities have maintained that the applicable process covers competing operators.
The dispute has also drawn reactions from opposition leaders, who have used the controversy to raise questions about the relationship between political power and major business interests.
Owaisi, however, emphasised that opposing the prime minister does not mean endorsing a foreign billionaire’s criticism of India’s decision-making. He questioned the BJP’s response, arguing that a party which frequently invokes nationalism should defend the country’s right to make its own decisions.
