Ram Madhav dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s Starlink criticism

Madhav dismissed the notion that the government favors any specific entity, noting that major players like Jio and Airtel are also currently navigating the same spectrum allocation queue as SpaceX. He labeled the opposition’s sudden support for Musk as hypocritical, pointing to previous warnings from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who had previously identified Starlink as a potential threat to national security.

The BJP leader questioned the shift in Congress's rhetoric, characterizing Rahul Gandhi as "Surrender Gandhi" for pivoting from anti-Musk stances to vocal advocacy. Madhav contrasted current administrative procedures with the UPA era, alleging that spectrum was handled haphazardly under previous administrations. He maintained that the Modi government would ensure all allocations remain strictly compliant with national regulations, free from the discrimination or corruption that he claims defined past policies. The dispute remains centered on whether India’s licensing requirements act as legitimate oversight or a barrier to competition.