US House Speaker Paul Ryan condoles Srinivas Kuchibhotla's death

Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed after a US Navy veteran Adam W. Purinton fired at him at a bar in Kansas.

Washington, March 2: After US President Donald Trump condemned the killing of an Indian techie during a shooting at a Kansas bar, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan has offered his condolences.

"The relationship between the US and India is rooted in shared values of democracy and freedom," Ryan said in a statement following meeting with visiting Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar here on Wednesday.

"We had a great opportunity today to build on this critical partnership by discussing ways to enhance our economic and defense cooperation, he stated. "In our meeting, I expressed the House's condolences on the death of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was senselessly murdered last week in Kansas. Our people must continue to stand together, and I look forward to working with Foreign Secretary Jaishankar in the years ahead."

Trump began his first address to Congress at the Capitol Hill on Tuesday by condemning Kuchibhotla's death, saying the country "stands united in condemning hate and evil".

"Last week's shooting in Kansas city reminds us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms," he said.

Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was injured when US Navy veteran Adam W. Purinton fired at them at the Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe on February 22. Purinton reportedly got into an argument with the two and hurled racial slurs. He yelled "get out of my country" before shooting them.

IANS