The Musk Ambani Starlink row has triggered backlash on X, with some Indian users posting subscription cancellations. Elon Musk’s claim about powerful business interests blocking Starlink also drew Rahul Gandhi into the debate over the company’s delayed India launch.
Musk Ambani Starlink row intensifies as users post X cancellations
The dispute over Starlink’s delayed India launch has widened into a political and social-media controversy after Elon Musk questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and some Indian X users responded by cancelling paid subscriptions.
Screenshots posted on X showed users sharing subscription cancellations alongside criticism of Musk. The posts show a visible backlash, but they do not establish how widespread the cancellations are.
X backlash
The reaction followed Musk’s criticism of what he described as powerful business interests obstructing Starlink’s entry into India. Some users accused him of insulting Indian institutions or oversimplifying the regulatory process, while others backed his criticism of competition in the telecom market.
The dispute has moved beyond satellite internet and into a wider argument about corporate influence, foreign technology companies and India’s regulatory environment.
Musk claim
Musk asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India” while questioning why Starlink had not received the remaining approvals needed to begin commercial operations. He also accused unnamed “oligarchs” of protecting a monopolistic position.
Musk did not provide evidence that Ambani or Reliance directly blocked Starlink. His comments remain allegations. India’s satellite communications sector involves licensing, security, spectrum and other requirements, so delays can result from regulatory procedures as well as commercial competition.
Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi joined the exchange by telling Musk, “Welcome to India” and asking him to wait until he discovered “the other guy”. Gandhi did not identify anyone, but the comment was widely interpreted as a reference to Gautam Adani because of his long-running criticism of the industrialist’s links with the government.
Musk replied that the situation was troubling, giving the controversy a political dimension.
Starlink delay
Starlink has spent years trying to enter one of the world’s largest telecom markets. The company argues that satellite broadband can help connect rural and underserved regions where conventional fibre or mobile networks may be harder to deploy.
Commercial operations still depend on final regulatory and security clearances. Having some authorisations does not automatically mean a company can immediately begin nationwide service.
Telecom
The row highlights the stakes in India’s satellite internet market, where Starlink would compete with established telecom groups.
For Musk, the dispute risks becoming a reputational battle with Indian users. For the government, it increases pressure to explain which approvals remain pending. Until there is evidence of direct interference, claims that specific business groups deliberately blocked Starlink should be treated as allegations rather than established fact.
