The White House has strongly denounced recent attacks targeting Indian students in the United States, asserting violence based on race, gender, or any other factor is intolerable and unacceptable within the country.
During a press briefing, National Security Council’s Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby reaffirmed President Joe Biden’s commitment to combating such attacks, stating, “There’s no excuse for violence, certainly based on race or gender or religion or any other factor.”
The statement comes amidst a troubling surge in attacks resulting in fatalities among Indians and Indian-Americans in the US.
One such incident occurred on February 7, where 41 years old Indian-origin Vivek Taneja lost his life in downtown Washington following a brutal assault. Despite efforts to save him, Taneja succumbed to his injuries days later.
In another distressing incident, Indian student Syed Mazahir Ali was violently attacked in Chicago on February 4. Disturbing videos circulating on social media depicted the severity of the assault, prompting swift condemnation.
Tragically, the string of violence continued with the mysterious death of Shreyas Reddy in Cincinnati, Ohio, earlier this month, adding to the growing concerns within the Indian community in the US.
These incidents follow the tragic demise of Neel Acharya, a student at Purdue University, and the brutal killing of Vivek Saini in Lithonia, Georgia, highlighting a distressing trend that demands urgent attention and action from authorities.
As investigations continue into these incidents, the White House reassures its commitment to work closely with state and local authorities to prevent such attacks and ensure accountability for those responsible.
