IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw deletes post welcoming starlink, reactions pour in

A deleted tweet by Union Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has increased political stir. In this tweet, he welcomed Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink to India, but it was later deleted. Opposition parties raised questions on this and asked whether the government has already made up its mind to give approval to Starlink?  Also raised the question that why did the IT Minister delete his tweet?

Ashwini Vaishnav deleted the tweet related to Starlink

Ashwini Vaishnav had posted on microblogging site X that 'Starlink, welcome to India! It will be useful for railway projects in remote areas. Although this tweet has been deleted after some time, its screenshots are going viral on social media. After Ashwini Vaishnav deleted the tweet, Congress, TMC and other opposition parties shared its screenshot and made several allegations against the government. Congress leader Shama Mohammed said why did the IT Minister delete his tweet? BJP made false corruption allegations against UPA, but now it is distributing spectrum without auction. They are playing with national security and creating monopoly in India to please Elon Musk and Trump.

Opposition reactions pour in

At the same time, TMC MP Saket Gokhale asked, "Did BJP get money from Elon Musk in exchange for approval?" He wrote that "India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav tweeted "Starlink, welcome to India" and then he deleted his tweet. Elon Musk's Starlink has not yet received government approval.

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭!

India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted saying “Starlink, welcome to India” & then DELETED his tweet.

Elon Musk’s Starlink has not yet gotten govt approval. It also has not been allotted any satellite spectrum.

But the tweet by… pic.twitter.com/H6kBsLLjLG

— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) March 13, 2025

It has not even been allocated any satellite spectrum, but Ashwini Vaishnav's tweet clearly shows that PM Modi is going to do everything possible for Trump and Elon Musk. The guarantee of "government approval" is clear. He asked how much is BJP getting from Elon Musk?

BJP now distributing spectrum without auction

On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee questioned whether PM Modi is secretly preparing to please America and Elon Musk, while we are busy paying for expensive internet, PM Modi and Musk may be planning to make India the world's first "Wi-Fi nation" while sipping tea on a SpaceX rocket. Forget "Digital India", this is "Starlinked India".

Breaking News: Starlink’s Indian Odyssey – A Tale of Tweets, Takedowns, and Tantalizing Theories!

India’s IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently took to Twitter to roll out the virtual red carpet for Elon Musk’s Starlink, tweeting, “Starlink, welcome to India!” But faster than… pic.twitter.com/EhOgkLBoWG

— Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (@INCTamilNadu) March 13, 2025

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also said about this controversy that the announcement of partnership with Starlink by Jio and Airtel within just 12 hours shows that everything was pre-planned, he also asked who will make decisions related to national security, Starlink or its Indian partner? Will other satellite internet companies also get approval or not?

Within literally 12 hours both Airtel and Jio have announced partnerships with Starlink, seemingly overcoming all their objections to its entry into India - which they have been voicing for quite some time.

It is abundantly clear that these partnerships have been orchestrated by…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 13, 2025

Starlink approval still pending

Let us tell you that Airtel and JIO have signed an agreement with Starlink, but government approval is yet to be received. Both Airtel and JIO have clarified in their press release that Starlink services will be able to start only when SpaceX gets permission to sell its network in India.

Summary

In 2022, the Indian government banned the sale of Starlink services without a license and forced the company to refund pre-bookings. At the same time, in 2024, the company again applied in India, and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said that if Starlink follows India's security and regulatory rules, it can be approved.

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