Musk Highlights Reliance Donations in Starlink Dispute

Elon Musk has intensified his dispute with Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani by sharing media reports about a Reliance-funded firm's involvement in social media campaigns supporting India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and political donations from a Reliance-linked company. The posts appeared on October 10, 2026, as Musk continued challenging delays in launching his Starlink satellite broadband service in India.

According to the reports Musk shared on X, one article examined the role of a Reliance-funded firm in promoting BJP campaigns on Facebook, while another reported political donations by Qwik Supply. The disclosures have added a political dimension to the ongoing disagreement over Starlink's entry into the Indian telecommunications market.

The Al Jazeera report, published in 2022, carried the headline How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP's campaigns on Facebook, which Musk highlighted in his post. He also shared an archived Indian Express report from 2024 concerning Qwik Supply.

The Indian Express report stated that Qwik Supply donated ₹385 crore to the BJP and ₹25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds. Reliance had not publicly responded to Musk's allegations at the time of the report.

Hours before sharing the reports, Musk addressed Ambani as "Prime Minister Ambani" on X and accused him of protecting a monopoly. The dispute centers on the delayed launch of Starlink, which Musk has sought to introduce as a competitor in India's satellite internet market.

Musk's criticism has included allegations that powerful business interests are trying to preserve their control over Indian consumers. He said Starlink was being blocked by certain oligarchs seeking to "maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people."

In another post, Musk directly challenged Ambani over whether Starlink would be allowed to compete with his business interests in India.

"Dear Prime Minister Ambani, Please accept my humble apologies for not realising 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?" Musk wrote.

Musk has also argued that expanding internet access could benefit communities with limited connectivity. He said the lack of internet access in many parts of India restricts children's educational opportunities and prevents small businesses from reaching international customers.

He further cited Starlink's role in restoring communications during natural disasters in other parts of the world, arguing that the service could provide a similar benefit in India.

"So you would also be helping save men, women and children throughout India," Musk added.

The Indian government has rejected suggestions that its licensing framework favors particular companies. Officials have maintained that telecommunications and satellite service approvals follow a fair process and that claims of selective treatment are unfounded.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on October 9, 2026, that India does not permit monopolies in any sector. He explained that the government aims to offer customers multiple technology and service options rather than favoring a particular provider.

At a briefing during the India Mobile Congress, Scindia described the Department of Telecommunications' position on competition and consumer choice.

"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," Scindia said.

Scindia identified three companies that had secured satellite communications licenses: Musk's Starlink, Reliance Jio's satellite venture Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. He added that Amazon's Project Kuiper had expressed interest but would need to complete the established approval process.

The minister said licensed operators could begin services after meeting security requirements and other regulatory milestones. Spectrum allocation would follow the government's decision on the revenue-based charging system, he said.

Scindia also said the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Department of Telecommunications were nearing a final decision on satellite spectrum pricing. The outstanding regulatory steps remain relevant to the commercial launch timelines of the licensed providers.

Addressing the political debate surrounding the dispute, Scindia criticized the Congress party over its position on licensing and its exchanges involving Musk and Rahul Gandhi. He questioned the consistency of the party's stance.

Scindia said the Congress had previously objected to "a certain person getting a licence" and later criticized the delay affecting that person. He also referred to the party's position as having changed following its political alignment with the individual concerned.

Earlier, Musk had questioned why Starlink had not begun operating in India despite its international presence and preparations to comply with local regulations.

"Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with every single law and requirement of the government of India, so why still no license?" Musk wrote on X.