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Prime Minister Modi condemns attack on ‘friend’ Trump and says: ‘Violence has no place in politics’

New Delhi:

“Violence has no place in politics and in democracies,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this morning, expressing concern over the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump at an election rally in Pennsylvania.

“Deeply concerned about the attack on my friend former President Donald Trump. Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him a speedy recovery,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, the injured and the American people,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, said he was “deeply concerned” about the assassination attempt.

“I am deeply concerned about the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Such acts must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. I wish him a speedy and full recovery,” he said on X.

Trump was shot at on Saturday as he spoke at a campaign rally in the Pennsylvania borough of Butler. The 78-year-old said the bullet pierced his right ear. Images from the rally showed security officers escorting him out of the state, his face covered in blood. One bystander was killed and two others seriously injured when the gunman fired several shots. He was shot down by security forces, but his identity has not yet been established.

US President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump in the upcoming US election in November, strongly condemned the incident and also spoke to his arch-rival after the shooting.

“There is no place for this kind of violence in America. It is sick. It is sick. It is one of the reasons we must unite this country … We cannot be like this, we cannot tolerate this,” Biden told reporters in an emergency briefing after the attack on Trump.

“The idea that there is political violence or violence of this kind in America is just outrageous. It’s just not appropriate. Everyone, everyone must condemn it. Everyone,” Biden said.

“I have been informed of the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I am grateful to hear that he is OK and safe. I am praying for him and his family and everyone who was at the rally as we await further information.

“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as a nation to condemn it,” Biden said in a post on X.