Kansas Shooting: New York Times criticises President Trump for not speaking up on hate crimes

The US daily The New York Times has criticised the Donald Trump-led administration for not speaking out against the hate crime in Kansas where an Indian engineer was killed.

By keeping mum on the killing of an Indian engineer in Kansas, President Donald Trump has "stoked" hate crime in America, The Times said in an editorial, warning that his silence will "damage" the vitality and strength of the country.

"President Trump and his administration have not only tried to keep many immigrants and foreign visitors out of the country, they have done so by casting them as criminals, potential terrorists and trespassers, out to steal the jobs and threaten the lives of Americans," the New York Times said yesterday in its editorial 'Who Belongs in Trump's America?' "Rather than tamp down hate, the president has stoked it," it said. "He has not said anything about the Kansas shooting," the paper added.

32-year-old Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was working in aviation systems for Olathe-based Garmin Ltd, died after he was shot by navy veteran Adam Purinton who, according to witnesses, yelled "get out of my country" and "terrorist" at a Kansas bar last Wednesday night before opening fire. Another Indian, Alok Madasani, was also shot, as was an American Ian Grillot, who risked his life to try and help the Indians.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily news conference that “early reports coming from Kansas are equally disturbing”.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined local law enforcement agencies in investigating the incident that has shocked the entire Indian-American community and several hundreds of Indians either working or studying in the United States.

However, President Trump has not directly condemned the Kansas incident, which evoked a sharp response from Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

With threats & hate crimes on rise, we shouldn't have to tell @POTUS to do his part. He must step up & speak out.https://t.co/QKKyXyuqNM

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 27, 2017

Trump must speak against this senseless act, not just condemn violence when it fits his agenda of fear mongering. https://t.co/cTsLG5aTm4

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 28, 2017

With PTI inputs