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President Joe Biden and his administration have made it a priority to protect Indian and Indian-American students from potential attacks, as highlighted by the White House. In a statement issued on Friday, John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, reaffirmed the administration's unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of these students. Kirby firmly condemned any form of violence against them, emphasizing that there can be no valid justification for such acts. The administration's dedication to safeguarding the rights and security of all students, irrespective of their background, remains resolute.
In response to a recent surge in attacks targeting Indian and Indian-American students, he shared his comments. The past few weeks have witnessed the tragic deaths of at least four students as a result of these attacks.
“There is no excuse for violence, certainly based on race, gender, religion, or any other factor. That's just unacceptable here in the United States,” Kirby told reporters here when asked about the series of attacks on students from India and also those from the Indian American community.
“The president and this administration have been working very, very hard to make sure we're doing everything we can to work with state and local authorities to try to thwart and disrupt those kinds of attacks and make it clear to anybody who might consider them that they'll be held properly accountable,” Kirby said.
An incident occurred in February when Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student studying at Indiana Wesleyan University, became a victim of assault. In January, Vivek Saini, a student who was employed part-time at a department store, tragically lost his life after being assaulted by a drug addict in Lithonia, Georgia.
Reports have emerged in the past several weeks regarding the deaths of at least four students who were Indian Americans.
The Indian-American community member, Ajay Jain Bhutoria, expressed profound concern over the devastating loss of young lives in unrelated incidents. These compiled events with tragic consequences have had a traumatic effect on the families, and the Indian community in general, as the importance of improved security measures, and a vast support network for these aspiring groups are being emphasized to the fullest.
Bhurtoria has stressed immensely the above, and plans on further addressing the grey areas about the support measures, finding out the exact root issue of ignorance, and how more resources could be deployed for these students.
The families of these students, who reside mostly in India, are raging with concerns and anger, which at this point is being addressed as a valid emotion. Every member of the community has made their voice clear on why this issue is such a prolific one, and how little steps are being taken to protect these Indian students studying in the United States, by helping them access various support channels of all kinds.
According to a community member, every person involved stands united in providing the required support, and assistance anytime needed, and therefore creating a safe and strong community for Indians living abroad.
Source Credit: The Hindu