Billionaire Harsh Goenka Criticizes Sabeer Bhatia for "Lecturing" Indians from California

Billionaire Clash: Harsh Goenka Takes Aim at Sabeer Bhatia Over India Critique

In a heated exchange on social media, Indian billionaire Harsh Goenka has publicly criticized Sabeer Bhatia, the Indian-origin co-founder of Hotmail, for his recent comments about India. The spat ignited after Bhatia, who now resides in California, expressed frustration over being labeled "anti-national" for voicing criticisms of the country.

Bhatia’s original post questioned the backlash he received for pointing out issues in India, stating, “Say India is unsafe for women – you’re anti-national. Question inflated economic numbers – you’re anti-national. Call out elected leaders’ lies – you’re anti-national.” He concluded with a provocative question: “So if truth = anti-national… then who’s a national? The one who lies to you?”

Goenka, known for his outspoken views, reshared Bhatia’s tweet, taking a firm stance against the entrepreneur’s criticisms. “Living in California and lecturing a billion Indians back home? We live here. We vote, work, pay taxes. We love this country—and we’ll fix what’s broken. India doesn’t need sermons from those who packed up and left,” he tweeted, sparking a wave of reactions online.

Social Media Reactions: Divided Opinions

The exchange has prompted a flurry of responses on social media, with opinions sharply divided. Supporters of Goenka praised his defense of India, with one user commenting, “Excellent response… Sabeer is now heading into a dormant phase!” Others, however, questioned the selective outrage directed at Bhatia, pointing out that many Indians celebrate the achievements of expatriates like Tulsi Gabbard and Sunita Williams.

In contrast, some defended Bhatia, arguing that he was merely advocating for truth. One user remarked, “At least he is supporting the truth,” while another suggested that Bhatia’s emotional responses stem from personal frustrations.

Bhatia’s Retort: A Call for Action

In response to Goenka’s criticism, Bhatia fired back, stating, “I’ve been hearing that sob story for more than 30 years now. It’s only getting worse because we have fantastic lecturers and no doers. Lots of Chiefs and no Indians…” His remarks suggest a deeper frustration with the state of affairs in India, emphasizing the need for action rather than mere rhetoric.

The Billionaires Behind the Tweets

Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, boasts a net worth of approximately $3.8 billion, ranking 76th on India’s 100 Richest list for 2024. Sabeer Bhatia, on the other hand, is renowned for co-founding Hotmail, which he sold to Microsoft for a staggering $400 million.

As the debate continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the responsibilities of expatriates and the complexities of national identity in an increasingly globalized world.