Elon Musk has recently supported an anti-Pakistan narrative put forward by Priyanka Chaturvedi, an Indian lawmaker affiliated with the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Chaturvedi sparked controversy by suggesting that grooming gangs in the UK should not be blamed on all of Asia but on “one rogue nation”—Pakistan. Musk endorsed her view on social media, calling it “true.”
Chaturvedi, a member of the RSS, which has been linked to far-right ideologies and has drawn comparisons to Nazi Germany, made the remarks amidst a broader debate over grooming gangs in the UK. This discussion gained traction after Labour leader Keir Starmer recalled his role in the first prosecution of an Asian grooming gang during his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Musk’s comments were seen as aligning with right-wing stereotypes often propagated in the media. His support for the anti-Pakistan stance comes at a time when his company, Starlink, is reportedly in talks with Pakistani authorities over licensing issues for satellite internet services. Some speculated that Musk’s statements might be a strategy to gain leverage in these discussions.
However, a 2020 UK Home Office report contradicted the narrative linking grooming gangs predominantly to Pakistani men. The report found that most child sexual abuse gangs in the UK were composed of white men under 30, challenging previous far-right claims. This research has been criticized by child protection experts, who argue that racially charged rhetoric undermines efforts to combat the issue and jeopardizes children’s safety.
Despite this, some media outlets, particularly in India, continue to promote the narrative that grooming gangs are predominantly composed of Pakistani men, contributing to misinformation and racial division.
