Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Kharge Accuses Modi Government of Creating Economic Monopolies
Mallikarjun Kharge, who leads the Congress party, criticized the BJP government’s economic policies.
He said fewer companies now compete in some industries than before 2014.
He pointed to telecom and domestic airlines as examples.
Kharge also said that small businesses have closed and young people are struggling to find jobs.
His comments came after Elon Musk said some powerful business interests were blocking Starlink in India.
Musk said this was protecting a monopoly.
India’s telecom ministry disagreed with Musk’s accusation.
It said Starlink and two other satellite communications companies were at broadly the same stage in the approval process.
Security checks were still under way.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of ending competition and creating monopolies or duopolies across Indian sectors.
Kharge said telecom had 13 players before 2014 and now has three major private players; he cited a fall from seven domestic airlines to two major players.
He also alleged that competition was being eliminated in digital payments, cement and food-delivery apps, hurting small businesses and employment.
His comments followed Elon Musk’s allegation that unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink to protect a monopoly in India.
The telecom ministry rejected Musk’s accusation, saying Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb were at broadly the same regulatory stage, with security assessments under way.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge; his remarks followed allegations by Elon Musk about Starlink’s approval process.
- What
- Kharge accused the BJP of reducing competition and imposing monopolies or duopolies in Indian sectors.
- When
- Friday; the article says Musk made his remarks on Thursday.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Kharge said reduced competition benefited the BJP’s alleged business allies and harmed small businesses and employment.
Kharge and Musk’s allegations
Government’s response
Competition and market concentration
Kharge and Musk’s allegations
Kharge accused the BJP of eliminating competition and imposing monopolies or duopolies, saying this had harmed small businesses and employment.
Government’s response
The articles report Kharge’s allegations but do not provide a direct government response to his claims about competition across sectors.
Starlink approval process
Kharge and Musk’s allegations
Musk alleged that certain oligarchs were blocking Starlink to protect a monopolistic hold on the Indian market.
Government’s response
The telecom ministry rejected Musk’s accusation and said Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb were broadly at the same regulatory stage, with security assessments under way.
- Telecom players before 2014
- Kharge said there were 13.
- Major private telecom players today
- Kharge cited three.
- Domestic aviation before 2014
- Kharge said there were seven players.
- Major domestic aviation players today
- Kharge cited two.
- Sectors also mentioned
- Digital payments, cement and food-delivery apps.
- Satellite communications companies named
- Starlink, Jio Satcom and Eutelsat OneWeb.
- Regulatory status
- The telecom ministry said the three companies were broadly at the same regulatory stage, with security assessments under way.
