5 hrs ago
Revanth Reddy Backs Rahul Gandhi in Musk’s Starlink Licensing Dispute
Rahul Gandhi and Elon Musk exchanged messages online about Starlink’s licence in India.
Musk asked why the company had not received a licence, saying it had followed India’s laws and requirements.
He also asked whether business interests were influencing the decision.
The Indian government said its rules for satellite internet services are fair and apply without discrimination.
It said security checks are still underway.
Revanth Reddy supported Gandhi and said India should welcome new internet technology.
He also pointed to UPI as an example of Indian digital innovation.
The posts raised different views about Starlink’s licence and India’s regulatory process.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy backed Rahul Gandhi’s post to Elon Musk on October 8, 2026.
Reddy said Congress governments supported digitisation and modernisation, citing UPI and mobile-based payments.
He urged India to welcome innovative internet systems and said it should not weaken Brand India.
The Centre said satcom rules are fair and non-discriminatory, and that security assessment is underway.
Musk questioned why Starlink has not received an Indian licence despite operating in more than 165 countries.
- Who
- Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Rahul Gandhi, Elon Musk and the Indian government.
- What
- Reddy backed Gandhi in an online exchange about Starlink’s licence and India’s approach to satellite internet services.
- Where
- India; the statements were posted on X.
- When
- October 8, 2026; the Centre said the security assessment was underway.
- Why
- Musk questioned why Starlink had not received a licence, while the government cited ongoing security assessment and Reddy called for welcoming innovative internet systems.
Musk and Reddy
Indian government
Starlink licensing
Musk and Reddy
Musk questioned why Starlink still lacked a licence despite its claimed record of compliance; Reddy urged India to welcome innovative internet systems.
Indian government
The Centre said the satcom framework is fair and non-discriminatory, and that security assessment is underway.
Influence on the decision
Musk and Reddy
Musk asked whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani was the real decision-maker in India.
Indian government
The Centre’s statement did not name Musk or respond to his allegation; it cited security conditions and an ongoing assessment.
Key facts
- Reddy’s role
- Chief Minister of Telangana
- Date of posts
- October 8, 2026
- Musk’s claim
- Starlink is licensed in more than 165 countries and has spent five years complying with Indian government laws and requirements.
- Government statement
- India’s satcom regulatory framework is fair and non-discriminatory.
- Licence process
- The Centre said a security assessment was underway.
- Reddy’s UPI reference
- He said UPI and mobile-based digital payments infrastructure were conceptualised under the Congress-led UPA-2 government in 2012–13.
Quotes
Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister
“Congress governments had always stood for digitisation and modernisation of India and the stellar reform to conceptualise the UPI and adopt mobile-based digital payments infrastructure was taken up under the Congress-led UPA-2 government in 2012-13. Today it stands out as a shining example of big Indian innovation. India should welcome innovative solutions in cutting edge internet systems and cannot afford to weaken Brand India globally to appease crony distractions.”
indianexpress.com
“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?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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