'Will you oppose India to oppose Modi': Tejasvi Surya hits Rahul Gandhi
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya accuses Rahul Gandhi of a U-turn on Starlink, alleging he is supporting foreign interests just to oppose PM Modi.
In a scathing political attack, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has accused Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of adopting contradictory stances regarding Starlink's entry into the Indian market. Surya alleged that Gandhi is backing SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's interests primarily to create hurdles for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Allegations of a Political U-Turn
The controversy erupted following remarks by Elon Musk regarding the challenges faced by Starlink in securing an operating license in India. Surya, taking to X (formerly Twitter), claimed that the Congress party has performed a complete reversal of its previous position on the matter.
According to the BJP MP, the Congress party had actively opposed Starlink's potential entry into India last year. At that time, the opposition had raised two major concerns:
- Pro-Business Allegations: Claims that the government was facilitating Starlink to benefit businessmen close to the Prime Minister.
- National Security: Arguments suggesting that the entry of such satellite services could pose risks to the country's security.
“And now, the same Rahul Gandhi has made a complete U-turn and is pushing for Starlink’s entry into India. He has not only reversed his party’s stand from a few months ago, but has also conveniently forgotten the national security arguments his own party had raised then,” Surya stated, adding that the opposition seems to be "simply for the sake of opposition."
The 'Jaichand' Comparison
Escalating the rhetoric, Surya drew a historical parallel, comparing Gandhi's alleged stance to the figure of Jaichand, who is traditionally associated with betrayal in Indian history. He accused the Congress leader of siding with foreign business interests to undermine domestic entities perceived to be aligned with the current administration.
“This reminds us of Jaichand. There are many such examples in Indian history where our own people sided with foreign interests to further their individual political ambitions. Every time, such choices cost the nation dearly,” Surya wrote. He concluded with a pointed question: “Will you oppose India just to oppose Modi, Mr. Rahul Gandhi?”
BJP Leaders Join the Fray
The criticism was echoed by other BJP leaders. Jaiveer Shergill took a swipe at the Congress leadership, mocking what he called the inconsistent messaging of the "Rahul Gandhi Gang." He noted the perceived contradiction where the government is accused of both selling national interests and protecting Indian businessmen depending on the day.
Former Union Minister and Kerala MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar also weighed in on the debate regarding satellite communication licenses. Responding to allegations that the government is blocking Starlink, Chandrasekhar emphasized that the telecom sector, once plagued by corruption and cronyism, is now governed by three strict principles under the Modi government:
- Open: Ensuring free and fair competition without monopolies.
- Safe and Trusted: Ensuring infrastructure and platforms are secure.
- Accountable: Ensuring every participant is legally responsible for safety.
Chandrasekhar noted that all satellite communication licensees are currently undergoing the same rigorous security clearance process. He highlighted that in a nation that has faced significant terror threats, such as the 26/11 attacks, the security implications of satellite IP services must be thoroughly verified before spectrum is allocated.