Indian American Congressman Ami Bera has strongly condemned the killing of an Indian engineer in Kansas, saying that racism and xenophobia have no place in the United States.
"Racism and xenophobia have no place in America, and I have full confidence that the investigating agencies will determine whether this crime was motivated by prejudice," Bera said in a statement.
According to reports, the shooter who has been arrested, yelled "get out of my country" before opening fire on 32-year-old Srinivas Kuchibhotla and his Indian colleague Alok Madasani on Wednesday night.
Srinivas was killed while his friend was injured. A third person, an American man identified as Ian Grillot, 24, who tried to intervene also received injuries in the firing in Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe in Kansas City in the US state of Missouri.
"As details emerge about the nature of this crime, it is disturbing for all Americans that a potential hate crime could happen here," the three-term Indian American Congressman said.
"As a nation of immigrants, it is not who we are to attack someone based on where they come from or what they look like.
"This senseless attack on these young men is a tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," said the three-term Democratic Congressman from California, who is also Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
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Meanwhile the South Asian Bar Association (SABA), in a statement demanded a full investigation into the Kansas shooting.
"In response to the increasing vitriol towards our communities, our government must be our first line of defense. Governments must protect the rights of minorities and ensure the safety of all of its citizens," said SABA president Vichal Kumar.
"Yet, in the face of senseless violence and apparent hate crimes, the calls for support, solidarity and protection by our government remain faint," he said as SABA expressed its deepest condolences to the victims and their families who fell prey to the senseless acts of violence in Kansas.
"While details continue to emerge, if true, we expect the governmental authorities to prosecute this act for what it is - a hate crime," SABA said.
"Grief, fear, disgust, outrage...The emotions this incident have fostered run the spectrum for communities forced to acknowledge increasing hate incidents and violence," it added.
SABA also urged the State of Kansas to protect its citizens, for this administration to condemn hate violence and urged the communities to continue to stand in solidarity.
"We cannot be silent, we cannot condone and we cannot despair. We must continue to confront and root out the hate and divisiveness in our country," it said.
"Another Srinivas Kuchibhotla should not have to lose his life, another Alok Madasani should not have to be wounded and another Ian Grillot should not have to risk his life to protect others from hate," SABA said.
