Kansas killing: U.S. prosecuting it as hate crime, says Jaishankar

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, presently on a visit to the United States, on Friday expressed confidence about Trump administration's endeavour to bring the perpetrator of the Kansas shooting to justice.

"It is a very tragic event which took place in Kansas, which obviously featured in many of our discussions. What we heard from very high levels, cabinet levels, was that one, we should regard this as an act of an individual, two, the American justice system was at work to bring the perpetrator of this act to justice. It is being prosecuted as a hate crime," Jaishankar said during a media conference at the Indian Embassy in Washington.

"What we have seen in the last few days whether it has been the White House statement or the President's own reference when he spoke to the Congress or what the Speaker said after we met or the fact that the House of Representatives observed a moment of silence. From almost everybody that we met and perhaps also the people whose responsibility did not directly deal with this, we heard expressions of deep sorrow, deep regret and a sense that we should really treat this as an individual act and the American system, American society as a whole was very much against it," he added.

Jaishankar also said they have conveyed to the new administration that Indian partnership is important for the growing American economy to stay competitive.

When asked about discussion held with the Trump administration over the H1B visa issue, the foreign secretary said the issue was discussed in a number of meetings with administration officials as well as the Congress.

During the meetings, the Indian side conveyed that the HIB was a category of trade and services which actually helps the American economy.

"If the Trump Administration's intention is to bring back American companies to America and attract more foreign investment in America therefore there will be more growth then it is important that growing America remains competitive. So, there actually will be a growing need for this partnership," he said.

The foreign secretary held meetings with a number of senior U.S. administration officials including Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, House speaker Paul Ryan along with meetings with senior member of the Congress.

The foreign secretary also interacted with American business through the US-India Business Council.

Jaishankar's four-day visit to the U.S. was aimed at sensitising the Trump administration about India's concerns over the security of Indian nationals in the U.S. following a possible cut in H1B and L1 visas.

This is his second visit to the U.S. since the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.