RSS body urges blocking Starlink, cites national security concerns amid Elon Musk's ‘oligarchs’ remark
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch is the economic offshoot of the RSS, the ideological fount of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has urged the Indian government to withhold permission for Elon Musk's Starlink to introduce its satellite broadband services in the country. This request stems from national security concerns after Musk suggested that Starlink faces "blocking" by certain "oligarchs" in India. The government dismissed Musk's claim, stating that India's regulatory framework for satellite communication is "fair and non-discriminatory."
SJM emphasized the existing law-and-order challenges in India, stating that internet-based social media often spreads rumors and anti-national narratives. Under such circumstances, "disrupting internet services frequently becomes essential to maintain law and order during instances of separatism, terrorism, riots, protests, and similar events," said SJM's national co-convenor Ashwani Mahajan.
SJM voiced concerns over Indian internet traffic potentially bypassing domestic gateways and traveling through foreign infrastructure, making it harder to monitor and enforce laws. Mahajan accused Musk of indirectly targeting Indian businesses and the government by making allegations about Starlink. He claimed that Starlink's technology, which uses laser-based satellite links for direct data transmission between satellites, poses a challenge to India's regulatory requirements.
The government recently imposed an internet ban during a protest against the election commission, which SJM saw as a necessary measure to control technology misuse. SJM highlighted the security risks associated with Starlink, citing examples from Ukraine, Iran, Russia, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, and Sudan. Mahajan reiterated that even if Starlink fails to obtain a license, India can still provide satellite-based internet services, which would be cheaper while ensuring national security.
Finally, Mahajan used the threat of Starlink's license denial as a message to US trade partners: if they impose high tariffs on Indian imports under the guise of national security, India reserves the right to block Starlink based on genuine national security concerns.
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