BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi over Musk exchange; defends spectrum stance

The ruling BJP intensified its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, targeting his engagement with Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk over India's wireless spectrum allocation framework. BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav raised pointed questions about Gandhi's position during a press conference, suggesting the opposition leader had softened his stance on the policy matter.

Musk had recently made remarks critical of India's spectrum policy, prompting Gandhi to engage with the billionaire entrepreneur on the issue. The exchange drew swift political attention, with the BJP using the interaction to question Gandhi's commitment to national interests and domestic policy positions.

Madhav's comments reflected the BJP's effort to portray Gandhi as inconsistent on key policy issues, particularly regarding telecommunications and industrial regulation. The party sought to reframe the narrative around India's spectrum management framework, which has been a subject of ongoing debate between government authorities and industry stakeholders.

The BJP's counteroffensive underscored the intensifying political battle between the ruling coalition and the opposition Congress party over policy matters and their international dimensions. Both sides have increasingly sought to leverage high-profile figures and cross-border commentary to buttress their respective positions on domestic regulatory questions.