“Priyanka Chaturvedi singles out Pakistan, sparking Elon Musk’s support amid UK grooming gang controversy.”
January 9, 2025: New Delhi: SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has backed Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi’s statement regarding the grooming gang controversy in the UK. Chaturvedi asserted that the blame for the grooming gangs could not be generalized to Asia but should instead focus on “one rogue nation” — Pakistan. Musk responded to her remarks with a succinct comment: “True.”
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Chaturvedi’s statement came amidst escalating debates in the UK over the widespread sexual abuse of primarily white British girls by men, predominantly of Pakistani origin, in northern English towns over several decades. The issue has drawn significant political attention, with the UK’s opposition Conservative Party demanding a new national inquiry into the scandals.
The controversy deepened following a statement by Britain’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer, who served as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008 and 2013, claimed to have led the first prosecution of an “Asian grooming gang.” Chaturvedi strongly objected to Starmer’s broad classification of “Asian,” emphasizing that the issue is specific to Pakistan.
Musk and Starmer Clash
Over the past week, Elon Musk has publicly criticized Starmer for his stance. Starmer, on the other hand, has dismissed calls for a new inquiry, instead advocating for the implementation of recommendations from a previous seven-year investigation into the grooming scandals, which suggested nearly two dozen measures for tackling the issue.
The focus on child safety in the UK also extended to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which mandates local authorities to maintain a register of children who are not in school. This move aims to safeguard vulnerable youngsters.
Tied to Broader Tragedies
The legislation gained renewed attention following the harrowing case of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl found dead at her home near London in 2023. She had suffered years of abuse, including broken bones, burns, and bite marks. Her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were recently convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
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Political and Public Reactions
The Children’s Bill has progressed through the UK Parliament, gaining support as a preventive measure against child abuse. Meanwhile, Chaturvedi’s remarks and Musk’s endorsement have sparked conversations around accountability and the importance of nuanced discourse in addressing sensitive issues.
