Swadeshi Jagaran Manch urges PM Modi to deny operating permissions for SpaceX’s Starlink

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

“It’s unfortunate that instead of responding to clarifications sought from his company, on national security grounds, Shri Elon Musk has chosen to make allegations on Indian businesses and the government indirectly,” Ashwani Mahajan, SJM’s national co-convener said in the memorandum to Mr. Modi. “It appears that Starlink is perhaps not prepared to meet those specific requirements. Consequently, it seems Elon Musk is either attempting to secure the license by creating public pressure against the government or is making these statements out of frustration.”

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

The SJM’s letter comes as the Union government has yet to approve requests from three companies for spectrum allotment to launch operations. The three companies are OneWeb India Communications Private Limited, Jio Satellite Communications Limited and Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited.

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

“Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges upon the government to block the permission to Starlink to rollout its commercial satellite broadband services,” Mr. Mahajan wrote. “SJM is of the firm belief that blocking Starlink would send a message to trade partners like the U.S.: if they have the audacity to arbitrarily restrict Indian imports — such as handicraft products — by imposing high tariffs in the name of national security, then India is certainly within its rights to block Starlink based on its genuine national security concerns.”