Billionaire has doubled down on his attack against Ambani, hours after calling him ‘prime minister’ in a social media post and offering an ‘apology’ for not realising that he was “the real boss of India.”
In a post, Musk shared screenshots of old Al Jazeera and Indian Express reports alleging links between Ambani and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continuing his criticism of the businessman.
Musk slams Ambani over delayed Starlink approval: What we know
The development comes hours after the CEO criticised the Indian businessman in a post on X, accusing him of delaying approval for Starlink’s launch in India. Musk wrote, “Dear Prime Minister Ambani, please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India. Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?”
In the last few days, has intensified his attacks against Indian “oligarchs” and accused them of delaying Starlink’s approval. On Wednesday, he reshared a post from an account called DogeDesigner, which called for Starlink’s launch in India. Backing the proposal, Musk wrote, “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!”
Musk claims Starlink would be of great help in India
The US business tycoon on Friday reiterated how could benefit India. In a post on X, he wrote, “There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and for small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market. Starlink would change their lives for the better.”
In yet another post, he stated, “Starlink will be of great help to areas of India that have bad or no Internet and even no mobile coverage. No country has perfect coverage, including America, but Starlink can fill in the coverage gaps for those who most need it.”
Centre responds to Musk
As Musk intensified his criticism on Friday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India does not allow monopolies in any sector. He added that while one company has attracted attention, three operators hold satellite communication licences and can launch services once they fulfil the security requirements and prescribed milestones.
Responding to the allegations without naming Musk, said at the India Mobile Congress, “Let me set the record straight. For us, the Department of Telecommunications, we are technology agnostic… Our job is to be able to provide the bouquet of services to every single customer. It is for the customer to choose in a free market which service he or she prefers, and within that service bouquet, which company’s service he or she prefers.”
The minister further said, “We are very clear on our stand. There are three parties that have got a licence; as and when the government decides the charge system on the revenue basis, that spectrum will be assigned to them, and as and when they individually fulfil the security conditions, they can start operations.”
While Musk has blamed business interests for the delay, the Centre maintains that operators can begin services once spectrum is assigned and the required security conditions are met.