Thanks, says Elon Musk after Rahul Gandhi replies to post on Starlink row

Elon Musk thanked Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader hinted at an unnamed powerful figure while replying to his post on Starlink's India delay.

In Short

• Elon Musk asks if Adani is real boss of India in Starlink row
• Rahul Gandhi responds 'until you discover the other guy'
• Musk thanks Gandhi, says That's indeed troubling

"Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling."

That was Elon Musk's response to Rahul Gandhi after the Leader of the Opposition referred to an "other guy" when Musk asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the "real boss of India" while questioning the delay in Starlink's launch approval.

Musk, who alleged that "certain oligarchs" were blocking his satellite internet company's India launch, said Starlink had spent five years complying with "every single law and requirement" and questioned why it still did not have a licence. "Is Ambani the real boss of India?" he asked.

Responding to Musk's post, Rahul Gandhi said, "Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy".

Although Gandhi did not name the "other guy", the Congress leader appeared to be referring to industrialist Gautam Adani, whom he and his party have repeatedly accused of having influence on the BJP-led government and receiving undue favours.

Musk then responded to Gandhi, thanking him for the message and adding, "This is indeed troubling".

The exchange came as Musk intensified his criticism of the regulatory process holding up Starlink's commercial launch in India.

In a social media post on Wednesday night, which sparked the row, Musk said, "Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are This is a crime against the people of India!"

The government rejected Musk's allegations and defended its approval process for satellite internet services as fair and non-discriminatory.

"The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived," the Ministry of Communications said in a statement, without naming Starlink or Musk.

The process to finalise approvals for satellite internet services is underway at various levels. According to the government, licences have been issued to three companies -- Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. However, none can begin commercial services 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.

Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani also said the issue was not specific to Starlink.

- Ends