New Delhi/IBNS-CMEDIA: : Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took an indirect swipe at the Centre and industrialist Gautam Adani while responding to billionaire Elon Musk’s criticism of the regulatory hurdles his satellite internet company Starlink is facing in India.
In a post on X, Musk questioned why Starlink had not received a full operating licence in India despite securing approvals in more than 165 countries and spending five years meeting government requirements.
“Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license? Is Ambani the real boss of India?” Musk wrote.
The post, which came amid accusations of crony capitalism, raised questions about whether Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio could benefit from regulatory barriers to satellite broadband competition.
Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 8, 2026
Rahul Gandhi’s cryptic response
Rahul Gandhi waded into the controversy without naming any industrialist directly, but his response was interpreted as a veiled reference to powerful business interests, including Ambani and Adani.
“Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy,” the Congress leader wrote in response to Musk’s post.
Musk quoted Gandhi’s post and replied, “Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.”
Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2026
What is the Starlink–India row about?
The dispute centres on the regulatory and security requirements Starlink must meet before launching commercial services in India.
Operated by Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet through a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites. The service could help extend connectivity to remote and underserved areas where conventional broadband infrastructure is limited.
However, satellite communications in India are subject to government authorisation, spectrum regulations and security conditions. Compliance with these requirements is central to Starlink’s proposed entry into the Indian market.
Government rejects allegations of favouritism
The controversy intensified in October 2026 after Musk alleged that powerful business interests were obstructing Starlink’s entry into India to protect established market players.
Questioning whether industrialists such as Ambani wielded undue influence, Musk suggested that regulatory hurdles could be preventing fair competition in the satellite broadband sector.
The Ministry of Communications rejected allegations of an unfair or discriminatory regulatory process, describing the suggestion as “baseless and misconceived”. The government maintained that Starlink and other satellite communication operators were subject to the same regulatory framework.
The exchange has brought renewed attention to the intersection of satellite internet, regulatory policy and competition in India’s telecommunications market.
