U.S has no right to speak when it cannot protect communities on its territory: Chacko

Senior Congress leader P.C. Chacko on Tuesday said the United States has no right to speak about others when they themselves are not able to protect minority communities on their own territory.

Referring to the killing of an Indian American in New Jersey during a robbery attempt, he said, "This is totally unacceptable. They always say that they are a pluralist and an inclusive society. If the Government of the United States cannot protect other communities, they have no right to speak about other countries. The U.S. authorities must take stringent action against this and come out with a statement," said Chacko.

Chacko was apparently referring to President Barack Obama's recent statement on India failing to encourage religious tolerance during his second visit to India.

In a shocking case of intolerance, a Hindu temple was vandalised with a hate speech in Washington. The incident happened when unidentified miscreants sprayed swastika and painted "Get Out" on one of the walls of the temple in the Seattle Metropolitan area.

The incident has shocked the community in the area, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

In a separate incident, a 28-year-old Indian-American, who was shot by unknown gunmen in his family-owned liquor shop in the US, has succumbed to his injuries. Amit Patel from Edison was shot and killed in New Jersey inside Roseway Liquors in Irvington on Sunday.

When police arrived at the store, they found Patel injured from a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A Murray and Acting Irvington Police Director Musa Malik said in a statement.

According to close family friends, Amit was manning the family's liquor store alone - his father, who owned the store was in the back office.

Earlier in an address at New Delhi's Siri Fort auditorium on January 27, during the last leg of his India trip, President Obama had made a strong pitch for religious tolerance, cautioning that India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along lines of religious faith.