Elon Musk shares reports linking Reliance-funded firm to BJP donations
Musk Amplifies Historical Reports Targeting Reliance Amid Broadband Clash
Elon Musk shared historical media reports on October 10, 2026, linking an Indian firm funded by Reliance to social media campaign boosts for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and detailing massive political donations, escalating a public dispute over satellite broadband delays in the country.
The posts on X by the billionaire technocrat featured an Al Jazeera report from 2022 detailing how a Reliance-funded firm boosted BJP campaigns on Facebook, alongside an archived Indian Express report from 2024 showing that Qwik Supply, a Reliance-linked firm, donated ₹385 crore to the BJP and ₹25 crore to the Shiv Sena through electoral bonds.
Direct Accusations at the India Mobile Congress
Musk targeted Ambani directly in posts on X, writing that he apologized for not realizing Ambani was the real boss of India and asking if Starlink would be permitted to compete against local entities.
Scindia Denies Monopolies as Four Companies Seek Licenses
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia pushed back against accusations of favoritism or market blockages, asserting that India does not permit monopolies in any sector. Scindia stated that three entities—Starlink, Reliance Jio’s satellite venture Jio Satcom, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb—have already secured licenses, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper has expressed interest.
Regulatory Hurdle on Spectrum Pricing
The operational clearance for these satcom providers remains pending as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the telecom department finalize the pricing regime for spectrum allocation. Scindia noted that once the government establishes the revenue-based charging system and companies fulfill individual security conditions, spectrum will be assigned and commercial operations can begin.
Starlink Compliance and Global Standing
He maintained that prolonged delays in granting permits deny internet access to remote areas, preventing children from receiving education and small businesses from reaching global markets.
Silence From Reliance Amid Political Sparring
Reliance has not publicly responded to the allegations regarding campaign support and political donations shared by Musk. Meanwhile, political sparring intensified at the conference, with Scindia criticizing the Congress party over shifting stances on licensing decisions and political alliances.
The exact timeline for the final spectrum pricing announcement by TRAI remains unconfirmed, leaving the precise launch date for Starlink and its competitors subject to upcoming regulatory decisions.