Starlink Row: Rahul Gandhi Says ‘Welcome To India’ After Elon Musk’s Ambani Remark, Gets Reply
Rahul Gandhi reacted to Elon Musk's post questioning whether Mukesh Ambani is the ‘real boss of India’ over Starlink's delayed launch, saying, ‘Welcome to India. Wait till you discover the other guy.’ Musk later responded, ‘Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.’
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi appeared to take a veiled dig at the Centre while reacting to Elon Musk's allegations over the delay in Starlink's launch in India. Responding to a post about Musk's claims, Gandhi wrote, ‘Welcome to India. Wait till you discover the other guy.’
The remark came after Musk alleged that ‘certain oligarchs’ were blocking Starlink's entry into the Indian market to protect a ‘monopolistic chokehold’. Musk did not name any company or business group in his initial allegation.
India Rejects Musk's Starlink Allegations
The Centre on Thursday rejected Musk's claims, saying all satellite communications companies in India are subject to the same regulatory and security requirements.
The Ministry of Communications said India's authorisation framework for telecom and satellite services was ‘fair and non-discriminatory’ and described suggestions that it was being selectively applied as ‘baseless and misconceived’. Starlink India Row: Centre Rejects Elon Musk’s ‘Oligarchs’ Claim, Says Rules Are Non-Discriminatory.
Rahul Gandhi On Musk’s Starlink Row: ‘Welcome To India, Wait Till You Discover The Other Guy’
Welcome to India, Elon.
Wait till you discover the other guy.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 8, 2026
The government has issued licences to three satellite communications companies: Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. However, none of them can begin commercial operations until the required security assessments and spectrum-related approvals are completed.
‘Security assessment as part of this process is currently under way in respect of all three licensees,’ the telecom ministry said. ‘Is Ambani the Real Boss of India?’ Elon Musk Drags Mukesh Ambani Into Starlink India Row.
Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the pending approval was with the Ministry of Home Affairs and was not specific to Starlink.
‘The Department of Telecom has issued licences to all satcom companies as well as provisional spectrum. Now the issue is pending with MHA for security clearance. As soon as it is cleared, they will get it. It has nothing to do with one company,’ Pemmasani told reporters on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress.
Musk Responds To Rahul Gandhi
After Gandhi's ‘Welcome to India’ remark, Musk responded directly to the Congress leader on X.
‘Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling,’ Musk wrote.
Musk Thanks Rahul Gandhi
Thank you, Rahul.
This is indeed troubling.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2026
The exchange adds a political dimension to the ongoing public dispute over Starlink's delayed entry into India, even as the government maintains that all three licensed satellite operators are broadly at the same regulatory stage.
Musk Says Starlink Ready For India Launch
Musk had alleged a day earlier that ‘certain oligarchs’ were preventing Starlink from entering India to protect their interests in the country's internet market.
He also rejected claims that Starlink services had been used by militants in Manipur, saying the company's satellite beams were switched off over India and therefore could not have been used there.
Musk said Starlink's entry into India would provide high-speed and affordable internet connectivity to people who either cannot afford existing services or do not have access to reliable connectivity.
Starlink has said it is ready to begin operations in India. Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX's vice president for Starlink business operations, said the company had invested in infrastructure designed to meet India's regulatory and security requirements.
According to Dreyer, Starlink has built 20 gateway sites in India with hundreds of antennas and established controls aimed at keeping Indian user data within the country.
OneWeb, Jio Also Await Approvals
The government has maintained that Starlink is not being treated differently from other satellite broadband operators.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said his satellite venture OneWeb was also waiting for regulatory approvals.
‘We are waiting for our own approvals,’ Mittal said at the India Mobile Congress when asked about Musk's allegations.
Jio Platforms Managing Director Akash Ambani declined to comment on Musk's remarks, saying he had not seen them.
India's telecom market is currently dominated by Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, while satellite broadband is expected to expand connectivity in remote and underserved areas.
The government said all three licensed satellite operators are broadly at the same regulatory stage, with security assessments currently underway.
The dispute comes as the India Mobile Congress is being held in New Delhi and highlights the regulatory challenges facing satellite internet companies seeking to enter India's growing communications market.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2026 09:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
