External affairs minister SM Krishna met family members of victims of Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting and said India and the US stand united against those who perpetrate a culture of violence and hatred.
Krishna paid a visit to the Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee on Thursday and met the family of priest Punjab Singh, who is still in coma after being critically injured in the August shooting.
He later met with families of six Sikh persons who were killed when lone gunman Wade Michael Page went on a shooting rampage in the gurdwara, critically injuring three others.
Expressing condolences and grief on behalf of the people and the Indian government, Krishna said such incidents "remind of the grim challenges that we face from perverse ideologies." "The senseless act of violence is more tragic because it happened in a place of worship, devotion and peace," Krishna said as he addressed over 300 members of the Sikh community at the Milwaukee gurdwara.
He added that all "rightly-thinking people" in India, the US and across the world had condemned the "barbaric act." The world has to be rid of such "intolerant bigots" who "perpetrate" a culture of hate and violence, he asserted calling for a unity regardless of nationalities and religious affiliations to fight such forces.
{{/usCountry}}He added that all "rightly-thinking people" in India, the US and across the world had condemned the "barbaric act." The world has to be rid of such "intolerant bigots" who "perpetrate" a culture of hate and violence, he asserted calling for a unity regardless of nationalities and religious affiliations to fight such forces.
{{/usCountry}}Krishna, who travelled to Wisconsin after attending the 67th session of the UN general Assembly here, had discussed the gurdwara tragedy in his meeting with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton earlier this week in New York.