‘Imagine if Trump bans India from using US tech platforms?’ asks Harsh Goenka, Sridhar Vembu responds

RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka sparked a strong debate on the social media platform X after suggesting a hypothetical scenario in which the Donald Trump administration bans India from using US technology platforms.

Though some people responded jovially, most admitted such a situation might happen in future.

Harsh Goenka asks what if Trump bans India from using US tech platforms

“Imagine if Trump bans India from using U.S. tech platforms – no X, Google, Instagram, Facebook or ChatGPT. Frightening, no?” Goenka wrote.

“Just think about the consequences seriously and what could be Plan B for us,” he added.

Imagine if Trump bans India from using U.S. tech platforms- no X, Google, Instagram, Facebook or ChatGPT. Frightening, no!
Just think about the consequences seriously and what could be Plan B for us.

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) November 5, 2025

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Zoho's Sridhar Vembu responds

While some users responded lightheartedly, joking that without Google, people would turn to chaiwalas for medical advice, and that couples would finally have to talk without Instagram, others pointed out the deeper implications of such a ban.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu was among those who took Goenka’s question seriously.

He agreed with Goenka’s concern, adding that India’s dependence runs far deeper than just apps.

He explained that from operating systems to semiconductor fabs, the country remains heavily reliant on global supply chains and technologies built abroad.

Vembu suggested a decade-long “National Mission for Tech Resilience,” arguing that India needs to build its own technological backbone to prepare for such what-if moments.

“We need a 10 year "National Mission for Tech Resilience",” claimed Sridhar Vembu. “It can be done,” he affirmed.

I agree. And we have a lot more such tech dependency beyond the app level: OS, chips, fabs, .. it goes deeper and deeper.

We need a 10 year "National Mission for Tech Resilience". It can be done. https://t.co/4a2ub5sMK5

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) November 6, 2025

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