President Kovind, PM Modi pay tributes to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary

As India is celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Friday, October 2 marks the birth anniversary of another freedom fighter, Lal Bahadur Shastri. Born on this day in 1904 in a humble household in Uttar Pradesh’s Mughalsarai, Shastri went on to become a politician, a statesman and India’s second Prime Minister.

“Jai Javan, Jai Kisaan” a clarion call that Shastri gave as the country was reeling under food scarcity, following the Indo-Pakistan war in 1965, is forever etched in our memories. 

As a PM, Shastri was instrumental in bringing about the White Revolution to increase milk production and the Green Revolution to boost India’s food production.

On his birth anniversary, President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to the former PM.

“A great son of India, he served our nation with exceptional dedication. His fundamental role in the Green Revolution, the White Revolution and wartime leadership continue to inspire the nation,” Kovind tweeted.

PM Narendra Modi shared a video on his Twitter page. “Whenever Shastri ji’s name comes up, a sense of respect comes up in the hearts of us Indians,” Modi said in the video.

“He was extremely polite from outside but his resolve was as strong as a mountain,” he added.

“He epitomised simplicity and lived for the welfare of our nation.”

“We remember him on his Jayanti with a deep sense of gratitude for everything he has done for India,” Modi tweeted.

The PM on Friday visited Vijay Ghat to pay his tributes to the former PM, ANI reported.

Shastri’s sons Sunil Shastri and Anil Shastri too visited Vijay Ghat to pay their tributes to their late father, ANI reported.