Elon Musk escalates attack on Ambani, BJP over Starlink clearance delays in India
Elon Musk has ramped up his campaign to enter India's telecom sector, launching a series of posts on his social media platform X targeting Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Musk shared media reports alleging a close relationship between Reliance and the BJP, including a 2022 Al Jazeera report on Reliance-funded entities boosting BJP campaigns on Facebook and a 2024 Indian Express article about Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited.
In one post, Musk directly mocked Ambani's political influence, writing: "Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realising that you are the real boss of India." He accused certain "oligarchs" of attempting to block Starlink to maintain a "monopolistic chokehold" on Indian telecommunications.
Musk's posts framed Indian telecom regulations as rigged in favour of domestic incumbents. He highlighted the absence of internet access in many Indian regions, arguing that Starlink's entry would provide connectivity to underserved areas and create economic opportunities for small businesses and educational access for children.
