Have opposed Modi, but a gora can't dictate: AIMIM chief Owaisi rains fire on Elon Musk

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has never been reluctant to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But when the world's first trillionaire, Elon Musk, questioned the authority behind India's political and business decisions, the Hyderabad MP drew a distinction between opposing the government and allowing a foreign businessman to dictate terms to the country. His response also offered a pointed contrast with Rahul Gandhi, who seized on Musk's allegations to renew his attack on the BJP-led Centre's ties with powerful industrialists in India.

The dispute began with SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Musk's public complaints about the delay in allowing Starlink, his satellite internet company, to begin commercial operations in India. But it has since acquired a political dimension, with the opposition seeing an opportunity to question the government's relationship with big business, while Owaisi has turned the controversy into a test of the BJP's own nationalist credentials.