Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), whose subsidiary is Jio Platforms Ltd., has hit back at U.S. Billionaire Elon Musk for his recent remarks on the company and the Indian market in connection with his satellite service Starlink.

“In light of recent remarks about Reliance and the Indian market, we wish to place the facts on record,” RIL said in a statement on Friday (October 16, 2026). 

“Like every Indian enterprise, Reliance has grown in an India that welcomes investment and innovation, homegrown or international, that improve the lives of the people,” the company said. 

“That openness rests on the rule of law. As the Government of India has stated, it applies the same process to every applicant, Indian or foreign,” it added. 

Stating that Jio’s own satellite services await clearances, the company said, “At Reliance, we have never feared competition. We see it as the truest test of who serves the customer best.”

“Jio itself entered India’s crowded telecom market in 2016 as the newest player, with not a single customer. In just ten years, Jio has earned the trust of over 530 million customers and given Indians some of the best digital infrastructure and most affordable data in the world,” the company said. 

“We welcome competition in satellite communications, including Starlink. Every player, Jio included, must serve the people of India and abide by the laws and policies of the land,” it emphasised. 

Recently Mr. Musk on X had stated, “We are being blocked by certain oligarchs to maintain monopolistic chokehold on Indian people… This is a crime against India!”

 “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” he had asked, adding Starlink was licensed in 165 countries, has 5 years compliance in India, still no final license had been granted yet. 

The Indian Government has reportedly responded saying the framework was “fair and non-discriminatory”. 

It stated Starlink, Jio Satellite, Eutelsat OneWeb of Airtel have satcom license but all were awaiting final security clearance and spectrum allocation so the allegations of discrimination was baseless. 

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said India should welcome innovative solutions in cutting-edge internet systems while cautioning against weakening Brand India globally to appease “crony distractions”.

Mr Reddy was apparently concerned that the statement of Elon Musk would damage India’s business image globally, and reminded that Congress governments had consistently championed the digitisation and modernisation of India.

In a post on social media, he cautioned against compromising Brand India’s interests to accommodate what he described as “crony distractions”, stressing the importance of promoting innovation and maintaining India’s credibility in the global technology landscape.

He recalled the conceptualisation of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the adoption of mobile-based digital payments infrastructure were taken up under the Congress-led UPA-II government in 2012-13, describing the initiative as a shining example of Indian innovation.

Mr. Revanth Reddy emphasised that India should remain open to innovative technologies and solutions in advanced internet systems, while safeguarding the country’s global reputation and technological standing.

He posted his opinion after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted his views in response to Elon Musk’s allegations that the central government had not accorded permission for Starlink due to various reasons.