English
Washington, Jan 30: The widow of an Indian engineer, who was shot dead in Kansas in the United States last year, has been invited to attend Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tomorrow on January 31, said Republican Kevin Yoder.
“Each year, I have the privilege of inviting one guest to attend the president’s State of the Union address. This year, I have invited Sunayana Dumala, widow of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, the Indian immigrant who was tragically killed in the hate crime shooting last year at in Olathe,” Yoder tweeted.
Hyderabad engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed at a bar in Kansas last year when a man allegedly shouted “get out of my country” and shot at them. While Kuchibhotla died, his friend Alok Madasani and so was Ian Grillot, who had tried to intervene and save the two of them.
The State of the Union address is a traditional annual speech where he is expected to largely focus on trade and immigration. “It’s a big speech, an important speech, we covered immigration. We worked on it hard, covered a lot of territory, including our great success with the markets and with the tax cut,” Trump said.
The theme of the State of the Union address is “building a safe, strong, and proud America”.
“Some of these individuals’ stories are heroic, some are patriotic, others are tragic. But all of them represent the unbreakable American spirit, and will inspire our nation to continue growing stronger, prouder, and more prosperous,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
Several Democratic lawmakers including Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Frederica Wilson said that they will not attend the address.
“I cannot in good consciousness attend the #SOTU address after the president went so low in his remarks about Haiti & African nations. It would be hypocrisy to go to an event at which he is honored,” Frederica Wilson tweeted.
Sharing the same sentiments, John Lewis said, “At this junction, I do not plan to attend the State of the Union. I cannot in all good conscience be in a room with what he has said about so many Americans. I just cannot do it.”
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest India News on India.com.
