India's security rules can't be wished away: BJP to Musk, Rahul Gandhi over Starlink

BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar pushed back at Elon Musk and Rahul Gandhi over Starlink's delayed India launch, saying national security clearances cannot be bypassed. While calling Starlink "awesome technology", he said patience was necessary given the security risks involved and accused the Congress of presiding over decades of opacity and corruption in the telecom sector.Rajeev Chandrasekhar rebuts Elon Musk and Rahul Gandhi over their criticism of the delay in Starlink’s India launch.New Delhi,Oct 9, 2026 12:33 ISTAs Elon Musk and Rahul Gandhi joined hands in questioning the delay in Starlink’s India launch, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has a pointed message for both: India’s security rules cannot be wished away.Pushing back against the growing attack on the government’s approval process, the BJP Keralam president on Friday told Musk that technological ambition must not come at the cost of national security and also took a swipe at the Congress leader.Calling Starlink “awesome technology”, Chandrasekhar said India’s security clearances were necessary and that patience was “a necessity” before the satellite internet service could begin operations in the country.In a post on X addressed to Musk, Chandrasekhar said India’s approach to satellite communications was guided by national security and the need to ensure that technology platforms were safe, trusted and accountable. “I have used Starlink and I think it’s awesome technology - and represents a new era in mobility innovation. No doubt,” he said, while stressing that countries must prioritise their own interests.“That’s what India is doing. Patience is unavoidable and in this case is a necessity,” he added. Dear Elon @elonmusk You hv certainly stirred up plenty of reaction with ur posts. But this needs a response from me, as did ur “Electronic Voting machines can be hacked” post from some time ago. As someone who knows a little bit abt Telecom as someone who played a decent-ish role in building Indias wireless sector as an Entrepreneur and then as a policy maker , let me share my thoughts. It is true that Indias Telecom was a sector beset with opaqueness and corruption for several decades - where cronies ruled under the benevolent love and the politics of ur latest fan (name not withheld - @RahulGandhi ) But under PM @narendramodi , 3 principles govern the tech (including Telecom/Internet) sector. Open, Safe & Trusted and Accountable. #OSTA Open - Free from any monopoly-duopoly. Free and fair competition. #SafeAndTrusted - Infra, Network , Platforms must be safe and trusted. Accountable - Every participant should be legally accountable for safety and trust. I was a MP first and then part of PM @narendramodi jis team when this framework was developed. I have more than a little experience of fighting years of political and bureaucratic opaqueness and corruption, which shaped these principles. so todays India is not that old crony driven India. I am not in govt anymore and certainly dont speak for it. But it seems to me that Govt has made it clear: all three satcom licensees are at broadly the same stage of ensuring security clearance by verifying its safety and trust first, then spectrum. Satellite IP services have many security implications. More so in a country like India which has faced years of Terror and insurgency supported by inmical state actors in our neighbourhood. From 26/11 terror attacks to recent ones in Pahalgam, satcom has been preferred comm for Terrorists. Satellite VOIP and encryption creates more challenges security wise. Not insurmountable but new capabilities and capacity hv to be built to ensure Safety and Trust. I hv used @Starlink and I think its awesome technology - and represents a new era in mobility innovation. No doubt. But a country has to plan for itself and its interests before every new choice. Thats what India is doing. Patience is unavoidable and in this case is a necessity.— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) October 9, 2026Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur in India’s wireless sector and later as a policymaker, Chandrasekhar said the country’s technology framework under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was built on three principles: openness, safety and trust, and accountability, which were aimed at ensuring fair competition, secure networks and platforms, and legal accountability for all participants.Contrasting this approach with the past, the BJP leader took a swipe at the Congress, alleging that India’s telecom sector had been marked by decades of opacity and corruption. He said the country had since moved beyond its “old crony-driven” past.Chandrasekhar clarified that he was no longer in government and did not speak on its behalf. However, he said all three satellite communication licensees were broadly at the same stage of security clearance.The BJP leader also stressed that security verification must come before spectrum allocation, citing the risks associated with satellite internet services, voice-over-IP and encryption.“From the 26/11 terror attacks to the recent attack in Pahalgam, satellite communications have been a preferred mode of communication for terrorists. Satellite-based VoIP services and encryption pose additional security challenges. These are not insurmountable, but new capabilities and capacities must be developed to ensure safety and trust,” Chandrasekhar said in the post.MUSK, RAHUL GANDHI ON STARLINK DELAYThe BJP leader’s remarks came amid a public exchange between Musk and Rahul Gandhi over Starlink’s delayed entry into India.The billionaire had alleged that powerful business interests were blocking the satellite internet company to protect their market dominance and questioned whether industrialist Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India”.Gandhi responded to Musk’s post, saying, “Welcome to India, Elon. Wait till you discover the other guy.”Though he did not name anyone, the remark appeared to refer to industrialist Gautam Adani, whom the Congress has repeatedly accused of enjoying close ties with the BJP-led government.Musk later replied to Gandhi, saying, “Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.”Meanwhile, the government has rejected Musk’s allegations of preferential treatment for powerful business interests, maintaining that the approval process for satellite internet services is fair and non-discriminatory.- Ends