The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an economic-nationalist group that The Hindu describes as an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), staged a protest in Bhopal on the afternoon of Monday, November 3, demanding that India’s central government refuse Starlink permission to launch satellite internet services in the country. The demonstration, at MVM College Square, was led by Satish Kumar, the SJM’s All India Joint Organiser, according to Organiser.
It follows an SJM protest march in New Delhi on October 23, and is the third publicly reported swadeshi action against Starlink’s entry in just over two weeks.
Key facts
- Organiser reports that Kumar said Starlink should not be allowed to launch in India until concerns over national security, data privacy and surveillance mechanisms are satisfactorily addressed.
- Kumar said the SJM is organising protests on the issue across the country, conveying its message through demonstrations and effigy burning.
- SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan has put the same demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a written memorandum, The Hindu reported.
- Three applications for spectrum allotment are still awaiting Union government approval: Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited, OneWeb India Communications Private Limited and Jio Satellite Communications Limited, per The Hindu.
- On October 18 the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), a national traders’ body, and the Swadeshi Vyapari Manch urged the government not to grant Starlink final commercial approval or spectrum allocation, The Free Press Journal reported.
Why it matters
The regulatory gate is still shut. The Hindu reported that the Ministry of Communications clarified all three pending applications remain at the same stage — so Eutelsat OneWeb is also waiting on an India decision, not just SpaceX. For Indian households that makes satellite internet availability a licensing question rather than a coverage one, and no Starlink price for the Indian market has been published while the applications sit unapproved.
The objections reported by these outlets turn not on speed or cost but on whether a foreign-operated constellation should carry Indian traffic at all.
What the Bhopal protest argued
Kumar on credibility and jobs
Kumar told the gathering that similar satellite-based internet technology is already available in India and that employment opportunities in the country cannot be compromised at any cost, Organiser reported. He added that even if Starlink offers affordable services of good quality, questions remain over the credibility of the United States, Elon Musk and those associated with him.
Citing developments involving Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kumar said India’s approach must remain cautious given the conduct of those stakeholders in international matters, according to the same report. He said he expected the central government to take a final decision in the national interest, keeping the spirit of Swadeshi in mind.
Calls for a monitoring framework
Also at the protest, Saket Singh Rathore said satellite-based internet could be exploited by hostile forces, smugglers and insurgent groups to communicate beyond the reach of conventional telecommunications networks, Organiser reported. He said clear arrangements for monitoring and regulating such services were essential during separatist activity, terrorist incidents, riots and protests, and that the government must clarify the framework covering the operation, monitoring and legal accountability of satellite internet providers.
Musk’s remarks and the Reliance dispute
The objection to Musk’s statements
Part of the groups’ anger is directed at Musk’s public statements. Organiser reported that the SJM criticised his remarks concerning India’s political and business affairs as inappropriate, and termed an alleged remark describing industrialist Mukesh Ambani as India’s Prime Minister condemnable. The group alleged that instead of addressing national security concerns, attempts were being made to pressure Indian business leaders and the government through public statements.
Mahajan made a similar argument in writing, framing it around the security and data-handling conditions the SJM wants imposed before any licence — lawful monitoring of traffic and user data kept inside India. “It appears that Starlink is perhaps not prepared to meet those specific requirements,” he said in the memorandum to Modi, as quoted by The Hindu, which reported that he accused Musk of either seeking a licence by creating public pressure or speaking out of frustration.
Reliance and an Indian constellation
The Hindu also noted that Musk had earlier accused Reliance Industries Ltd. of trying to block Starlink’s entry into the Indian market, and that Reliance has denied the allegation. Mahajan said India must build its own satellite internet infrastructure for commercial and strategic reasons, pointing to a constellation developed through India’s efforts that he said is already operational. He did not name it; The Hindu reported that he may have been referring to OneWeb, in which the Bharti Group is an investor.
Traders’ bodies want data kept in India
CAIT’s case, set out by B C Bhartia, its national president and the national convenor of the Swadeshi Vyapari Manch, centres on data. He said Starlink’s global network of thousands of satellites, interconnected through laser links, could route Indian users’ data through ground stations outside the country, The Free Press Journal reported. That description of how traffic would be handled is Bhartia’s characterisation of the network, not a verified technical account: the report cites no documentation for it, and no response from SpaceX on how Indian traffic would be routed or where it would land.
Bhartia argued that connectivity is a matter of national strategic importance rather than merely a service, and claimed that sensitive information belonging to farmers, security personnel, traders and other citizens could come under the control of a foreign private company. “When we have indigenous technology, why should we hand over our strategic digital infrastructure to an American company?” he asked, in remarks reported by the paper.
The two bodies asked that Indian satellite service providers be prioritised under the Make in India and Digital India initiatives, that all satellite operators manufacture 100% of their ground equipment in India, and that all data be stored within the country. Those conditions sit alongside the separate commercial debate over the argument that Starlink must match Indian prices to compete with Jio.
None of the three reports indicates when the government will decide, and none states a position from SpaceX on the protests. The business case is being argued on separate ground, including by analysts who say Starlink’s India bet hinges on price and capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian satellite operators do the protesting groups say could replace Starlink?
The Confederation of All India Traders and Swadeshi Vyapari Manch named the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), Jio Satellite Communications and OneWeb, which is backed by Bharti Airtel, as domestic alternatives, according to The Free Press Journal. CAIT president B C Bhartia argued India already has the capability to provide satellite communication services through domestic players.
Why does the Swadeshi Jagran Manch link Starlink to the India-US trade dispute?
In his memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SJM national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan argued that if the United States can arbitrarily restrict Indian imports such as handicraft products with high tariffs in the name of national security, India is within its rights to block Starlink on its own national security concerns, The Hindu reported.
What past security incident did the traders’ bodies cite against satellite internet?
B C Bhartia referred to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, saying India could not afford security lapses arising from the misuse of satellite communication services, according to The Free Press Journal. He also said that in border areas, data handled outside India could complicate lawful surveillance and compliance with directives from Indian security agencies.
Do the groups’ preferred Indian operators already have clearance to sell satellite internet?
Not according to the reporting cited here. OneWeb India Communications and Jio Satellite Communications are themselves among the unapproved spectrum applicants, per The Hindu — so on the evidence of those reports, clearing the groups’ preferred Indian players would require the same pending government decision they want withheld from Starlink.
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