Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Musk’s Starlink Dispute Sparks Political Row and X Cancellations
Elon Musk wants Starlink to offer satellite internet in India, but it still needs final approvals.
He says the company has followed India’s rules for five years and suggests powerful businesspeople are holding it back.
Musk also asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India.”
Rahul Gandhi answered with a sarcastic message about “the other guy,” which the articles say was likely a reference to Gautam Adani.
Gandhi did not say Adani’s name in that post.
India’s communications ministry says the approval rules are fair and apply equally to the companies involved.
Starlink and the other satellite service contenders still need to complete security checks and obtain required approvals before starting commercial services.
Some people on X said they cancelled their paid subscriptions after Musk’s comments.
Elon Musk questioned why Starlink lacks final approval to begin commercial services in India despite being licensed in more than 165 countries.
Musk alleged unnamed oligarchs were obstructing Starlink to protect their market dominance and asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India.”
Rahul Gandhi replied, “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy”; the articles say this was widely understood as a reference to Gautam Adani, though Gandhi did not name him.
India’s Ministry of Communications called claims of an unfair or discriminatory approval process “baseless and misconceived,” saying the rules apply equally.
Some Indian X users posted screenshots saying they had cancelled their subscriptions after Musk’s remarks.
- Who
- Elon Musk, Rahul Gandhi, India’s Ministry of Communications, and satellite communications companies including Starlink, Jio Satcom, and Eutelsat OneWeb.
- What
- Musk challenged Starlink’s delayed approval and alleged obstruction by powerful business interests; Gandhi responded sarcastically, the ministry denied unfair treatment, and some X users said they cancelled subscriptions.
- When
- Thursday, during the ongoing India Mobile Congress; no calendar date is provided.
- Where
- India; the remarks and subscription-cancellation posts were made on X.
- Why
- The dispute concerns Starlink’s pending approvals for commercial services and competing claims about whether the authorization process is fair.
Claims of obstruction and unfairness
Government and industry responses
Fairness of Starlink’s approval process
Claims of obstruction and unfairness
Musk alleged that unnamed oligarchs were blocking Starlink to preserve market dominance and questioned why the company still lacked final approval.
Government and industry responses
The Ministry of Communications said the framework and its application were not unfair or discriminatory and that the companies face equal rules.
Whether a business group is influencing policy
Claims of obstruction and unfairness
Musk asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India”; Gandhi’s reply alluded to another industrialist, widely understood in the articles as Gautam Adani.
Government and industry responses
The ministry maintained that authorization is governed by a common process, including security and data requirements; Sunil Bharti Mittal said Eutelsat OneWeb faces the same compliance scrutiny.
- Starlink approvals
- Musk said Starlink is licensed in more than 165 countries.
- Musk’s claim
- He said Starlink had spent five years complying with Indian laws and requirements.
- Musk’s question
- He asked on X whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India.”
- Gandhi’s response
- “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.”
- Companies named
- Starlink, Reliance Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb.
- Government response
- The Ministry of Communications called allegations of an unfair or discriminatory framework “baseless and misconceived.”
- Requirements for service
- The companies need to complete security assessments and obtain required approvals, including spectrum-related approvals, before commercial services can begin.
- X user response
- Some Indian users posted screenshots saying they had cancelled their subscriptions.
