Venkaiah Naidu asks US to condemn Indian techie's killing

Hyderabad: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday asked US President and people to come out openly and condemn the killing of Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla, saying such racist attacks are not good for the US and the world.

Terming the Kansas shooting in which Srinivas was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was injured, as shameful, he said this was blot on US which claims to be the oldest democracy.

"American President and people should come out openly and condemn such actions and then take strongest action and send a message that this is not acceptable," Naidu said.

Stating that seven incidents of this nature occured, the central minister said that they are sending wrong message which was not good for US, its people and the world.

Naidu said that when small incidents occur in India, it was blown out of proportion and the country which claims to be the oldest democracy tell the world that this is what happening in India.

The Minister said the US should answer the questions raised by Srinivas' wife so eloquently even in this hour of grief.

Naidu said the incident had caused anguished to Indians and brought sorrow to Telugus.

He said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj acted swiftly and directed the Indian embassy to make arrangements for bringing home the slain techie's body.

Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and Alok Madasani was injured when Adam W. Purinton, a white man who earlier served in the US Navy, shot them at the Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, Kansas state, on Wednesday night.

Purinton reportedly got into an argument with the victims and hurled racial slurs. He yelled "get out of my country", "terrorist" before shooting them.

Kuchibhotla of Hyderabad and his colleague Madasani from Warangal district in Telangana were working as aviation programme managers at Garmin, an MNC.