Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi Says Grooming Gangs Are 'Pakistani' & Not 'Asian'. This Is How Elon Musk Responded

“Repeat after me, they aren’t ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs," Chaturvedi tweeted.

Elon Musk has endorsed Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi's criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks regarding a child sexual abuse scandal. The controversy erupted after Starmer used the term “Asian” to describe the perpetrators, which many argued was overly broad and inaccurate. Chaturvedi asserted that the term misrepresents the issue, as the cases predominantly involve men of Pakistani heritage.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi wrote: “Repeat after me, they aren’t ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs.” Elon Musk responded to her post with a succinct “True.” Chaturvedi further questioned why the broader Asian community should be implicated for the actions of individuals from “one absolute rogue nation.”

What's The Grooming Gang Debate?

The controversy centres on historic child sexual abuse cases in northern England, where predominantly white British girls were abused by gangs, largely composed of men of Pakistani origin. Calls for a fresh national inquiry have resurfaced, with critics accusing the UK government of downplaying the role of ethnicity in these crimes.

However, Starmer has dismissed the demand for a new inquiry, emphasising the need to implement recommendations from a prior seven-year investigation into the matter.

During his tenure as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (2008–2013), Starmer reopened several child abuse cases, leading to the prosecution of what he described as an “Asian grooming gang” in Rochdale.

His use of the term “Asian” has sparked backlash, particularly among Indian diaspora groups and charities like the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO).

Criticism Of The Term 'Asian'

The NSO has long opposed the use of the term “Asian” in reference to these crimes, arguing that it unfairly implicates South Asian communities as a whole. In a statement, the organisation expressed disappointment with Starmer’s choice of words, highlighting the need for precise language to address the issue effectively.

“This use of the vague reference to ‘Asian’ grooming gangs is extremely disappointing from the Prime Minister, Part of the problem with this issue has been a fear of not speaking openly about the ethnicity and (or) religion of the majority of perpetrators. This has, in some instances, made it worse for the victims,” the NSO noted, calling for accurate reporting to reflect the gravity and scope of the issue.

As debates over the terminology and accountability continue, the controversy has drawn attention from global figures like Musk, amplifying calls for clarity and justice in addressing such heinous crimes.