Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have exchanged remarks on social media over delays in securing final approval for Starlink’s commercial operations in India.
The exchange began after Musk raised concerns about the approval process, questioning whether billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India.”
Responding to Musk’s remarks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.”
Musk subsequently replied, “Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.”
The exchange drew attention to the role of major business groups in India’s telecommunications sector and the regulatory challenges facing foreign companies seeking to enter the market.
The Indian government has rejected allegations that powerful business interests are obstructing Starlink’s entry, maintaining that satellite operators must complete mandatory security assessments before launching commercial services.
Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, provides satellite-based internet services and has been seeking to expand its operations in India, one of the world’s largest telecommunications markets.
India’s Ministry of Communications said Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture and Eutelsat OneWeb had all received licences but were awaiting further security assessments and spectrum-related approvals before beginning commercial operations.
The government rejected allegations of discriminatory treatment, maintaining that the same regulatory requirements applied to all three operators. (Newswire)
