Trump Tariffs: AAP's MP Raghav Chadha makes a 'Starlink suggestion' to the Indian government

TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 3, 2025, 23:46 IST

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AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has called for India to take a strong stance against the US for imposing a 26 percent tariff on Indian exports. He suggested leveraging pending Starlink approvals as a strategic tool to renegotiate tariffs and address data sharing concerns with Starlink.

Trump Tariffs: AAP's MP Raghav Chadha makes a 'Starlink suggestion' to the Indian government

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has urged the Indian government to adopt a firm stance against the US after it imposed a 26 percent tariff on Indian exports. Chadha proposed leveraging the pending approvals for Elon Musk’s Starlink as a strategic tool to renegotiate what he termed the “Trump Tariffs.�?During a session in the House, Chadha confronted the Union Minister for Communications, condemning the US for betraying India’s trust and undermining its goodwill with the tariff imposition. “We extended unwavering loyalty, only to be met with a tariff from the Trump Administration that threatens to devastate our economy,�?he remarked, reciting a Hindi couplet about betrayal in friendship.
Chadha emphasized India’s supportive policies toward American firms like Google and Facebook parent Meta, including tax incentives, as evidence of its amicable approach. In contrast, he noted, “our nation has been hit with a 26 percent retaliatory tariff.�?br/>Chadha pressed further, asking, “Shouldn’t India withhold Starlink’s necessary approvals to use as leverage in renegotiating the Trump Tariffs?�?He also questioned the government’s position on Starlink’s refusal to share data with Indian authorities, citing privacy laws. “How will the government address this resistance from Elon Musk’s Starlink regarding data sharing and the potential risks of misuse?�?he inquired.
Chadha alluded to broader concerns about US corporate influence, referencing Musk’s alleged threat to cut off Starlink services in Ukraine, which reportedly crippled its frontline defenses. He also cited an incident involving a Myanmar-based drug syndicate, uncovered in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which allegedly misused Starlink’s navigation satellite. He pointed out that Starlink declined to provide equipment details, again invoking privacy concerns.
The AAP MP concluded by pressing the government on its strategy to tackle the alleged misuse of satellite internet spectrum, particularly by Starlink.

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