Increasing hate crimes against Indian diaspora a serious cause of concern for government: MEA

New Delhi, Mar 14, 2017: Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian engineer was killed in a hate attack in Kansas on February 22. India raised this with the US authorities on very strong terms, as reported by a top official to Zee News. The MEA official further said that the safety of Indian diaspora and Indians is a matter of serious concern for the Indian government.

The issue was majorly raised in the Parliament, following which Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister assured the House of the People that the Government is taking this issue very seriously. Gopal Baglay, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar was conveyed by US officials during his talks in Washington that the attack on Kuchibhotla and another Indian in the February 22 incident was an "individual case".

The Indian Consulate reached out to the families of Alok Madasani and Kuchibhotla, who were injured in the shooting in a Kansan pub on 22nd February, also offering support to the family of Deep Rai, a sikh and an American Citizen, injured in a hate attack in Kent last week, said Baglay.

"You would have also seen the response of the US authorities, beginning with President Trump who referred to the Kansas incident in his address to the Congress. The US Embassy had put out a press release condemning the Kansas killing. Speaker of the House has also condemned it," said the spokesperson, pointing out the wide ranging condemnation of such crimes within the US.

"This point has also been highlighted by various prominent US dignitaries that such crimes do not represent the views of the vast majority in that country. In fact, several senior US dignitaries have explicitly mentioned in the recent days that Indians are welcome in the United States," he added.

"Given the high priority the Government attaches to the security and wellbeing of Indians and persons of Indian origin abroad, we will continue to remain strongly engaged with the concerned authorities wherever required."

Baglay also said that the Kansas Government has offered to provide support the Kuchibhotla's family and has welcomed Indians to the State.

Referring to Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback's letter, he said, "there is a sense of regret at the unfortunate shooting, commitment to prosecute the matter, support to the family of the deceased, and recognition of the qualities and contribution of Srinivas to Kansas."

Sam Brownback wrote a letter to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India expressing regret over the violence against Indians.

Harnish Patel, another Indian was killed 10 days ago in South Carolina. However, the killing was not identified as a hate crime.

-Prepared by Nikita Saraf, Twitter: @niki_saraf