Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Friday, 9 October 2026 sharply questioned Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he signalled support for billionaire Elon Musk in the ongoing dispute over a telecom licence for Musk's satellite internet company Starlink. The BJP asked whether the Indian National Congress (Congress) was preparing to seek campaign funding from a foreign businessman — a charge the party's media co-convener framed in unusually pointed language.

What Triggered the Row

Musk had posted on social media platform X alleging that Starlink — licensed in over 165 countries — had spent five years complying with every Indian law and requirement, yet still had not received a licence. In a pointed follow-up post, he asked: 'Is Ambani the real boss of India?' Gandhi responded publicly, writing, 'Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy' — a remark widely read as a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi or a key business ally.

BJP's Counterattack

BJP National Media Co-Convener Sidharth Yadav said Gandhi's remarks amounted to echoing the views of a 'wealthy foreign businessman' in an attempt to influence Indian policy. 'Today, Rahul Gandhi appears to be a puppet of a foreign billionaire. India is a sovereign country. India makes its own policies, and these policies are decided in the Indian Parliament, not on social media platform X,' Yadav said.

Yadav went further, invoking the historical figure of Mir Jafar — a reference carrying sharp connotations of betrayal — saying Gandhi's behaviour was 'reminding us of Mir Jafar, who worked with foreigners to weaken the country.'

Congress's Earlier Stance on Starlink

The BJP highlighted what it called a significant reversal in the Congress's position on Starlink. Yadav displayed a social media post by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on camera, quoting him as having asked previously: 'Perhaps the biggest question is of national security; when it is about national security, who will have the authority to shut down or resume connectivity?' Yadav alleged the party had now taken 'a U-turn' and was 'probably preparing for foreign funding for their election campaigns, teaming up with rich foreign businessmen.'

Ram Madhav's Warning to Musk

BJP National Vice-President Ram Madhav directed pointed remarks at Musk himself. 'Elon Musk should keep in mind that India is not a banana republic where he can make statements as he pleases. All matters related to spectrum and telecommunications in India are governed by laws and regulations,' Madhav said. He noted that domestic telecom giants including Jio and Airtel were also awaiting similar permissions, and that the process would be 'transparent and in accordance with the rules.'

Madhav also turned the Congress's earlier critique against Gandhi directly: 'Rahul Gandhi, who used to accuse us of surrendering before Trump and Musk — why has he now surrendered himself? Why is he in such a hurry to ensure that Elon Musk gets the satellite internet services licence? What did he get overnight?'

Government's Position on Starlink

The Indian government had earlier criticised Musk for alleging that Starlink's Satcom services were being blocked, and made clear that compliance with security norms is 'an absolute must' for every Satcom licensee. This row comes amid a broader global debate on satellite internet regulation, and notably mirrors tensions in other jurisdictions where Musk's companies have sought fast-tracked regulatory approvals. How the Starlink licence dispute is resolved could set a precedent for how India treats satellite spectrum allocation going forward.