Swadeshi Jagaran Manch urges PM Modi to deny operational clearance to SpaceX’s Starlink

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch members and supporters protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet services in New Delhi October 23, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI

The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deny operational permission to SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, in India. The SJM is an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the recommendation follows a protest march led by members of the SJM.

“It is unfortunate that instead of responding to the clarifications demanded from his company, Shri Elon Musk, for reasons of national security, chose to make allegations against Indian businesses and the government indirectly,” Ashwani Mahajan, national co-organizer of SJM, said in a memo to Mr. Modi. “It appears that Starlink may not be ready to meet these specific requirements. As a result, it appears that Elon Musk is either trying to secure the license by creating public pressure against the government, or is making these statements out of frustration.”

Mr Mahajan said India had to develop its own satellite internet infrastructure for both commercial and strategic reasons. “A constellation of communications satellites, developed through India’s efforts, is currently operational,” Mr. Mahajan said, possibly referring to the OneWeb constellation, where the Bharti Group is an investor.

SJM’s letter comes at a time when the Union government is yet to approve applications from three companies for spectrum allocation to start operations. The three companies are OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, Jio Satellite Communications Limited and Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has previously accused Reliance Industries Ltd. from an attempt to block Starlink’s entry into the Indian market. Reliance has denied the allegations, while the Ministry of Communications has clarified that all three applications remain at the same regulatory stage.

“Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges the government to block permission for Starlink to roll out its commercial satellite broadband services,” Mr Mahajan wrote. “SJM strongly believes that blocking Starlink would send a message to trading partners like the US: if they have the audacity to arbitrarily restrict Indian imports – such as handicrafts – by imposing high tariffs in the name of national security, then India certainly has the right to block Starlink based on its genuine national security concerns.”

Published – 23 Oct 2026 21:09 IST