Amid Trump's Shooting Bid, BJP Digs Gandhi's Past Comments, Says He Encouraged Violence Against Modi

New Delhi: The BJP, on Sunday, sharpened its attack against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and accused him of encouraging violence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The saffron party remarked the same hours after former President of the USA Donald Trump, 78, survived an attempt on his life on Saturday when a young shooter allegedly fired multiple shots at him at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, injuring his right ear.  

The shooting left one person attending the rally dead and two others in serious condition. The 20-year-old suspected shooter was shot and killed by a member of the Secret Service.

'PM Modi is Back For a Third Term, Says Malviya

BJT IT cell head Amit Malviya in a post on X, dug up alleged old remarks by Gandhi and wrote, "Indian democracy survived the global Left’s assault and Prime Minister Modi is back for a third term… Incidentally, ‘Democracy is in Danger’ is the theme in the US Presidential Election too, just like ‘Samvidhaan ko Bachana hai’ was opposition’s pitch here in India… Caste, like race in America, was weaponised to drive a wedge in Indian society."

"Rahul Sought Foreign Intervention...Failed to Deliver…"

He further wrote, "Demonising opponents and calling them dictator is also not a coincidence. In fact, the global money bag, with dangerous ideas, used the term for the first time, to describe democratically elected powerful world leaders, who he couldn’t control. But Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi, who sought foreign intervention in India’s elections, failed to deliver…"

Gandhi Encouraged, Justified Violence Against PM Modi

In another post, Malviya wrote, "These are insincere words. Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi has often encouraged and justified violence against Prime Minister Modi, who he has lost election to, several times now. How can India ever forget how Punjab Police, then under the Congress, deliberately compromised PM’s security, when his convoy was left stranded on a flyover."

"When Modi Was PM Candidate, Six Blasts Went Off in Patna..."

He added, "Never forget: When Narendra Modi was the prime ministerial candidate in 2013, six blasts went off during his rally in Patna. The terrorists had originally planned to assassinate Modi using a suicide bomber…"

Such Acts Must Be Condemned, Says Gandhi

Gandhi took to X and said he was 'deeply concerned by the assassination attempt on Trump. He wrote, "I am deeply concerned by the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. Such acts must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Wishing him a swift and complete recovery."

PM Modi Deeply Concerned By Attack On His 'Friend'

PM Modi expressed deep concern over the attack and said violence had no place in politics and democracies. In a post on X, he wrote, "Deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump. Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people."

World Leaders Denounce Assassination Bid on Trump

World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on Sunday denounced the appalling assassination bid on Trump and asserted that violence has no place in politics and democracies.

Appalled By Shocking Scenes: British PM

Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally. “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack,” he said.

Macron called the assassination attempt "a tragedy".

"This is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people," Macron said on social media platform X.

Inexcusable Attack Under Democratic Values: Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "This was an inexcusable attack under the democratic values that Australians and Americans share and the freedom that we treasure. These values are ones that unite our two countries.”

Italian PM Meloni Wishes Trump Speedy Recovery

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “following with apprehension” updates from Pennsylvania and wished Trump a speedy recovery.

She expressed her hope that “in the following months of the electoral campaign, dialogue and responsibility can prevail over hate and violence.”

'I'm Relieved To Learn...' Says Ukrainian President

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was appalled to learn about the shooting of Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania.

"Such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world. Never should violence prevail. I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery," he said.

(with PTI inputs)