TOI Correspondent from London: British Indians are furious at the blanket term “Asian grooming gangs” being used by UK PM Keir Starmer and the media during the ongoing debate over sexual grooming, saying they are being smeared for crimes in which they have no involvement.
On Monday Starmer used the phrase “Asian grooming gangs” when defending himself against criticism from Elon Musk despite the fact that the perpetrators are largely of Pakistani descent.
“We are dismayed that the PM chose to whitewash this heinous atrocity with the word ‘Asian’,” said Krishna Bhan, chair, Hindu Council UK. “Our Hindu and Sikh girls were also their victims.”
“Asian means Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Indian, etc. Why should we be classified as part of these gangs,” asked Jay Shah, spokesperson for Friends of India Society International UK. “They should specify who they are. It’s an insult to every Asian otherwise. When it comes to grooming gangs, we are Asian, when they talk about Kashmir, we are suddenly Indian. Politicians seem to be protecting the perpetrators rather than the victims. If a British person commits a crime in Asia, it isn’t reported as European.”
“This use of the vague reference to Asian grooming gangs is extremely disappointing from the PM,” Network of Sikh Organisations said. “Part of the problem has been a fear of not speaking openly about the ethnicity or religion of the majority of perpetrators,” it said.
Sikh Youth UK has spent the past 15 years supporting Sikh victims of grooming gangs and produced reports on the issue for the govt, and even caught perpetrators outside Sikh schools. “We have dealt with thousands of cases of Sikh victims,” said its head, Deepa Singh. “We have rescued Sikh girls exploited and neglected in the care system who have been groomed by these gangs.” The Hindu Council UK ran awareness campaigns via temples.
“In the debate with regard to child sexual exploitation, Sikhs, Hindus and others incorrectly labelled ‘Asian’ are sick and tired of politicians, including Keir Starmer, referring to ‘Asian grooming gangs’ for reasons of political correctness,” Sikh Federation UK said. “Until politicians call out the specific identity of child grooming gangs, they will be accused of covering up the truth and not addressing the underlying issues.”
Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion was forced to resign as shadow equalities minister in 2017 after writing that “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls”.
The Hindu Council UK and INSIGHT UK are backing Conservative party calls for a public national inquiry.