India's top diplomatic envoy, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is expected to visit Washington on Tuesday (February 28th) for "extensive bilateral talks," an official of the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. His arrival follows an attack on Wednesday, February 22 in Kansas, in which an Indian national was killed.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, a 32-year-old engineer, was murdered in a bar in the southern state of the United States by a white veteran of the U.S Navy, who opened fire and uttered racist insults, shouting "leave my country" according to witnesses quoted by the Kansas City Star newspaper.
Another Indian engineer was wounded, as was a young man who had attempted to interfere.
The shooter boasted of killing Iranians
The FBI was asked to investigate whether it was a "hate crime", a term used to describe crimes motivated by discrimination or prejudice. The alleged gunman, Adam Purinton, 51, was charged with assassination. After the incident, he boasted of killing "Iranians," according to Fox News.
Thousands of Indians visit the United States each year to work or study there. This attack sowed fright across India. He made headline news in India, and on social networks, many Indians felt that the harsh stance of U.S President Donald Trump on immigration created a climate of intolerance in the United States.
India could demand more security for its nationals
According to media reports, Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the highest-ranking Indian official in the United States since Donald Trump came to power, could ask for assurances for the safety of his compatriots.
He should also take the opportunity to address the restrictions on the H-1B visa, the principal work permit on American soil and the gateway for many Indians to Silicon Valley.
Washington delivers 85,000 H-1B visas each year, much of which is obtained by Indian companies in the U.S in the engineering or high technology fields.
Kuchibhotla srinivas's wife Sunayana Dumala and other family members, hundreds of people, including politicians, residents of his colony at Bachupalli in the southern Indian state of Telangana and friends wept as the pyre was lit amid chants of Vedic hymns.
