Trump condemns the killing of Indian techie in Kansas in his congressional address

By Ananya Dutta | Washington – In his first major address to the congress, President Donald Trump condemned the attack on the two Indian techies Srinivas Kuchibhotla and his friend Alok Madasani on 22nd February in Kansas City. 32 years old Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed in the attack while Alok Madasani was critically injured. The attack was carried out by a 51 year old navy veteran named Adam Purinton. Trump also condemned the spate of anti Semitic attacks that occurred recently. “Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms, Trump said.

Trump has been criticized for his lack of reaction on these attacks earlier by many prominent State Department Officials and other political opponents. Though the White House had earlier called the Kansas City shooting a disturbing incident, this was the first time Trump expressed an opinion regarding it. After the address many of his critics thanked him on social media however some wondered if the condemnation had come too late.

The FBI is investigating the shooting incidence as a hate crime, and it has come to light that the attacker may have mistaken the two Indians as Iranians. The attack has led to fears among immigrants that they are not safe in the US and that they are being targeted due to Trump’s ‘America first’ policies.

(Reporting by Ananya Dutta; Editing by Mohith Agadi)