When Elon Musk backed Indian MP referring to ‘Pakistanis’ over ‘Asian’ label to ‘grooming gangs’ in UK

Billionaire Elon Musk has weighed in on a controversy involving British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s reference to “Asian grooming gangs” in relation to historic child sexual abuse scandals in northern England.

Musk endorsed the view of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who criticised the use of the term “Asian” to describe perpetrators, stating the label unfairly implicates an entire continent for crimes predominantly involving men of Pakistani heritage.

Chaturvedi took to the social media platform X to voice her frustration, posting: “Repeat after me, they aren’t ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs. Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?” Musk responded simply but emphatically: “True.”

The remarks have reignited debates around the grooming gang controversy, which spans several decades and has involved widespread sexual abuse of primarily white British girls in towns like Rotherham, Rochdale, and Derbyshire.

A previous seven-year inquiry into the issue offered 20 recommendations, but calls for a new national probe have been growing, particularly among the opposition Conservative Party and victims’ advocates.

Musk also criticised Starmer’s tenure as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013, accusing him of failing to address the systemic crimes. “Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer,” Musk wrote in a post last week.

Amid mounting pressure, Starmer has defended his record, stating that he oversaw the first successful prosecution of an “Asian grooming gang” during his CPS tenure. He rejected demands for a new inquiry, emphasizing that efforts should focus on implementing recommendations from the earlier investigation.

The debate has also drawn criticism from diaspora groups, including the Network of Sikh Organisations in the UK, which expressed disappointment over Starmer’s use of the term “Asian.”

In a statement, the group noted, “This vague reference to ‘Asian grooming gangs’ is disappointing. Fear of openly addressing the ethnicity and religion of the majority of perpetrators has worsened the situation for victims and communities.”

Separately, discussions on safeguarding measures for vulnerable children have intensified. The UK Parliament is advancing the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, aimed at improving oversight of children not attending school, following high-profile abuse cases, including the tragic death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif.

This renewed attention on grooming gangs and child protection underscores a broader need for transparency and accountability in addressing systemic failures that have persisted for years.