BJP rebukes Elon Musk over Starlink spectrum remarks, backs Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI — The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday criticised SpaceX founder Elon Musk for suggesting India operates like a “banana republic” and defended the government’s decision to allocate spectrum to the Starlink satellite‑internet project. The party also used the occasion to attack opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for defending Musk’s remarks.

Party’s response to Musk’s tweet

The BJP issued a statement saying Musk must remember that India follows a transparent, rule‑based process for spectrum allocation and that the country is not a banana republic. The party added that the Indian government has a sovereign right to regulate telecommunications in the public interest and that the Starlink licence was granted after a competitive bidding process.

Rahul Gandhi’s intervention

Earlier in the week, Rahul Gandhi, president of the Indian National Congress, posted on social media that Musk’s comments reflected a misunderstanding of India’s democratic institutions. The BJP described Gandhi’s post as an attempt to politicise a technical regulatory decision. In a separate release, the party said Gandhi was “sacrificing national interest for partisan gain” by siding with a foreign entrepreneur.

Starlink spectrum allocation

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) awarded a 5‑GHz spectrum band to Starlink in August 2026 after a public auction that attracted bids from several domestic and international firms. The auction was conducted under the 2023 Spectrum Policy, which mandates a transparent bidding process, minimum reserve prices and compliance with national security guidelines. The DoT confirmed that Starlink met all eligibility criteria and that the licence was granted for a period of ten years, subject to annual renewal.

Opposition parties have raised concerns that the allocation could disadvantage Indian telecom operators and that the auction process lacked sufficient scrutiny. The BJP rejected those concerns, stating that the auction was overseen by an independent committee and that the terms were consistent with previous allocations.

Political fallout

The exchange has heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections in several key regions. BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have reiterated the party’s stance that foreign companies must respect India’s regulatory framework. They also warned that any attempt to portray India as a “banana republic” could undermine the country’s investment climate.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi responded that the BJP’s defence of the spectrum award was “a distraction from the real issue of ensuring affordable internet access for all Indians.” She added that the party would seek a parliamentary debate on the matter.

Context of Musk’s comments

Musk’s tweet, posted on October 8, 2026, referenced a recent interview in which he said that India’s regulatory environment was “slow and unpredictable.” The SpaceX founder later clarified that his remarks were intended to highlight challenges faced by global tech firms operating in emerging markets, not to disparage India’s democratic institutions.

Industry analysts note that Starlink’s entry into the Indian market could increase broadband penetration, especially in rural areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. However, they also caution that the service must comply with local data‑privacy and security regulations.

Government’s position

DoT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking to reporters on Monday, said the ministry remains committed to a “level playing field” for all telecom operators. He emphasized that the Starlink licence was granted after “rigorous evaluation” and that the company is required to adhere to Indian laws on data localisation and spectrum usage.

Vaishnaw declined to comment on the political debate surrounding the issue, noting that the ministry’s focus is on implementing policy and ensuring service quality for consumers.