Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked political debate by responding to Elon Musk’s public frustration over delays in Starlink’s Indian licensing process. Musk questioned whether industrialist Mukesh Ambani was influencing regulatory approvals for satellite broadband services. Gandhi responded sarcastically, using the controversy to criticize the government over alleged crony capitalism and its handling of business interests.

The ruling BJP counterattacked, highlighting Congress’s earlier security concerns about Starlink. Party leaders accused Rahul Gandhi of political hypocrisy, arguing that his remarks overlooked national security considerations and appeared to favour a foreign billionaire over India’s regulatory procedures.

Elon Musk’s Starlink Delay Sparks Rahul Gandhi–BJP Row?

Elon Musk publicly criticized regulatory delays affecting Starlink’s commercial launch in India, raising concerns about the approval process for satellite internet services. He questioned whether domestic business interests were influencing government decisions. The controversy intensified debate over competition, licensing procedures, and the challenges facing foreign satellite broadband providers seeking entry into India’s telecommunications market.

The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of political hypocrisy, citing Congress’s earlier security concerns about foreign satellite broadband networks. Domestic operators, including Reliance Jio Satellite and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, are also awaiting final regulatory approvals and national security clearances before beginning commercial operations in India.