Following the backlash over the murder of an Indian engineer in Kansas, which is being touted as a hate crime, the White House has attempted to downplay notions that there was any correlation between the incident and President Donald Trump's stance on immigrants.
Noting that the incident was tragic indeed, White House spokesperson Sean Spicer asserted that it was "absurd" to draw parallels between with the President's rhetoric.
"Obviously, any loss of life is tragic, but I'm not going to get into, like, to suggest that there's any correlation I think is a bit absurd. So I'm not going to go any further than that," Spicer said.
However, the relatives of Kuchibhotla held the recent election of Trump as President as the reason for this incident.
Trump in his run-up to election had made many speeches against immigrants taking jobs of Americans.
"This is first time it happened to (my) family; Trump is only the primary reason as of now. A racist person said 'get out of my country' and targeted my brother and his friend," Kuchibhotla's kin told ANI.
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According to the local U.S. media, the gunman, Adam Purinton, 51, who is a Navy veteran, was arrested after he allegedly blasted off several rounds of fire on Thursday.
The Police say Purinton shot and killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an engineer at GPS maker Garmin International and wounded his colleague Alok Madasani.
At least one witness has claimed that Purtinton yelled 'get out of my country' and also heard him screaming racial slurs before opening fire.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has assured that India would undertake all arrangements to transport the mortal remains of the former to Hyderabad.
"We will make all arrangements to transport the mortal remains of Srinivas Kuchibhotla to Hyderbad, she said in a tweet.
Swaraj spoke to the father and brother of Kuchibhotla and conveyed her condolences to the bereaved family.
"I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. We will provide all help and assistance to the bereaved family." Sushma tweeted.
The US Embassy in India has condemned this incident in a statement, "The United States is a nation of immigrants and welcomes people from across the world to visit, work, study, and live," US Charge d'Affaires MaryKay Carlson said in a statement.