Tesla CEO Elon Musk has voiced support for Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi’s remarks criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his controversial use of the term “Asian” while discussing a child sexual abuse scandal in England. The scandal involves grooming gangs predominantly composed of men of Pakistani origin.

Priyanka Chaturvedi took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her disapproval of the terminology used by the UK Prime Minister. “Repeat after me, they aren’t ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs. Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation?” she posted. Her statement was met with a response from Elon Musk, who commented, “True,” indicating his agreement with her perspective.

The controversy erupted after UK’s Opposition demanded a fresh national inquiry into decades-old sexual crimes against children in northern England, a demand that Starmer has rejected. The Labour leader argued that the government should focus on implementing recommendations from a previous seven-year inquiry rather than conducting a new investigation. The earlier inquiry had provided around two dozen suggestions to tackle the issue of child sexual abuse.

During his tenure as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013, Starmer claimed credit for reopening child sexual abuse cases and securing the first prosecution of an “Asian grooming gang” in Rochdale, northwest England. However, his choice of words has drawn backlash from various quarters, including Indian diaspora groups in the UK.

Indian community leaders in the UK have strongly criticized the broad use of the term “Asian,” arguing that it unfairly implicates all Asians in crimes predominantly committed by men of Pakistani origin. They have called for a more accurate representation to avoid stigmatizing diverse Asian communities.

The debate gained momentum on social media after Musk, the owner of X, launched a series of attacks on Keir Starmer, further amplifying the issue. The Tesla CEO’s endorsement of Chaturvedi’s views has added a global dimension to the controversy.

For years, far-right groups in the UK have highlighted the widespread sexual abuse of mostly white British girls by grooming gangs in several northern towns. These groups have long advocated for stricter actions and inquiries to address the issue, claiming that political correctness has hampered justice.

The latest controversy underscores a broader cultural and political divide on how sensitive issues such as grooming gangs and child sexual abuse should be addressed. While some argue for direct acknowledgment of ethnic backgrounds involved in crimes to ensure accountability, others warn against the risk of stereotyping entire communities.