Billionaire Elon Musk has taken a swipe at businessman Mukesh Ambani, addressing him as “Prime Minister Ambani”.
Musk made the remarks in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday.
He accused Ambani of seeking to maintain a monopoly in India’s telecommunications sector.
The US tech billionaire argued that allowing Starlink to operate would expand internet access to underserved communities across India.
“Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India,” Musk said in the statement.
He added that Ambani would naturally prefer to maintain what he described as the “monopolistic exploitation” of Indians but appealed for Starlink to be allowed to compete in the market.
“Would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” he asked.
“There are many areas of India, as there are in all countries, with no Internet access, which denies children the opportunity for education and small businesses the opportunity to sell their goods to a global market,” he said.
However, the Indian government has dismissed claims of a monopoly in the country’s telecommunications sector.
India’s Telecom Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said at a media briefing on Friday:
“India does not allow a monopoly in any sector.”
Starlink: Musk mocks Ambani as ‘Prime Minister’ over entry blockage in India