KTR asks Musk to name ‘oligarchs’ blocking Starlink in India

BRS working president KT Rama Rao backed Elon Musk's remarks on Starlink's India entry, urging him to identify the alleged oligarchs he claimed were blocking the satellite internet service. The Centre, however, dismissed Musk's allegations as baseless.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao urged Elon Musk to name the oligarchs he alleged were blocking Starlink’s entry into India to protect their monopolistic interests.

Reacting to a post by Musk on X, Rama Rao said the Indian public wanted to know who had gained a stranglehold over the government.

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Earlier, Musk, responding to a user who said India needed Starlink, had alleged that certain oligarchs were blocking the service to maintain their monopolistic chokehold over Indians. He described the alleged obstruction as a crime against the people of India.

Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …

This is a crime against the people of India!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2026

Rama Rao shared Musk’s post and said, “Elon, name and shame the oligarchs. The Nation (India) wants to know who has got this stranglehold on our Government.”

The exchange comes amid the ongoing debate over Starlink’s proposed satellite internet services in India.

However, the Central government denied Elon Musk’s claim that oligarchs were blocking access to Starlink in India. “The suggestion that the framework or its application is unfair or discriminatory is baseless and misconceived,” the Centre said in a statement.