Elon Has A Problem With Bengali…In London

Photo: @RupertLowe10

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Elon Musk has once again drawn attention, this time for weighing in on a controversy over bilingual signage at a London railway station and should have nothing to do with him.

The debate began when Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe criticized a sign at Whitechapel Station featuring both English and Bengali text, arguing that station names “should be in English, and English only.” Musk responded with a simple “Yes,” aligning himself with Lowe’s stance.

The signage, installed in 2022, was part of a Tower Hamlets council initiative to honor the Bangladeshi community’s contributions to East London. Whitechapel is home to one of the largest Bangladeshi populations in the UK, and the move was widely celebrated, including by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She wrote on X, “Proud to note that the London Tube Rail has accepted Bengali as a language of signage at Whitechapel Station, signifying the increasing global importance and strength of the 1000-year-old language,” calling it a “victory of our culture and heritage.”

Musk’s endorsement of Lowe’s statement has reignited discussions on multicultural representation in public spaces. His comment also comes amid ongoing scrutiny over his management of X, where he recently unfollowed rapper Kanye West after the musician made inflammatory remarks, including declaring himself a “Nazi.” While West’s account was later suspended, Musk faced criticism from actor David Schwimmer for not taking swifter action against hate speech.

His latest stance on bilingual signage adds another layer to the debate on language, identity, and inclusion in public spaces.