Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 26 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned a shooting incident at a high-profile event in Washington, saying violence has no place in a democracy and must be unequivocally rejected.

Modi expressed relief that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President J D Vance were unharmed after a gunman opened fire outside the venue of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting the evacuation of senior officials.

U.S. authorities said a suspect, identified as Cole Tomas Allen, had been taken into custody and faces preliminary charges including firearm-related offences, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation leading the investigation.

Separately, in his monthly radio address “Mann Ki Baat”, Modi urged citizens to participate in the upcoming Census, calling it a national responsibility.

“The Census is not just a government exercise; participation of every citizen is vital,” he said, adding that data collected would remain secure and confidential.

He said Census 2027 would be conducted digitally, with enumerators using mobile applications and a self-enumeration option available to citizens ahead of official visits. According to Modi, house-listing for about 12 million families has already been completed.

The prime minister also highlighted progress in renewable energy, saying India’s installed wind power capacity has surpassed 56 gigawatts, with nearly 6 gigawatts added in the past year.

“Solar and wind energy are essential not only for the environment but for securing our future,” he said.

India is currently the world’s fourth-largest wind energy producer, with further capacity under development as part of its long-term clean energy targets, officials said.