Congress observes Lal Bahadur Shastri’s 56th death anniversary

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Rich tributes were paid to the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 56th death anniversary on Tuesday by the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee in a function held at PCC HQ Shahidi Chowk, here.
JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla presided over the function and attended by Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, General Secretaries Yogesh Sawhney and Th. Manmohan Singh, PYC President Uday Bhanu Chib, Spokesperson Kapil Singh, PCC Secretaries Thomas Khokhar and Sanjeev Panda, Ricky Dalotra, Dr. Ramakant Khajuria, Corporater Ritu Choudhary, Atul Sharma, Gurmeet Singh, Ram Magotra, Michael Wazir, Rakesh Sharma, Surinder Dogra and Sahil Dogra. Raman Bhalla paid rich tributes to Shastri and said that his philosophy and commitment to Kissans and Jawans is more relevant today in view of the approach and attitude of the BJP Govt. towards them. He said that Shastri served the country throughout his life and is recognised for his honesty, competency, and down-to-earth demeanour. He became India’s second Prime Minister on June 9, 1964, following the death of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. He was recognised with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, for his services to the nation.
Bhalla said, “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” , the slogan that still arouses every Indian’s patriotism was first coined by India’s second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Speakers said that Lala Lajpat Rai created the Servants of the People Society, and Lal Bahadur Shastri became a member of it. Mahatma Gandhi and Lokmanya Tilak influenced him a lot. Following which he became a member of the Indian Independence Movement in 1920. He took part in Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation movement and was imprisoned as a result of it.
Lal Bahadur Shastri had participated in several other movements and was jailed for protesting against the British. He had participated in movements like Salt Satyagraha, Quit India movement of 1942 etc. He was imprisoned till 1946 as a result of his role in the Quit India movement.
Lal Bahadur Shastri became India’s second Prime Minister on June 9, 1964, following the tragic death of Jawahar Lal Nehru.During his rule, he launched the ‘White Revolution,’ which was a nationwide push to boost milk production. He also contributed to India’s Green Revolution by improving food production.
India won the Indo-Pak war under his reign after Pakistan encroached on India in 1965. He supported the Indian military and coined the phrase “Force will be met with Force,” which has since become renowned across the country.
On January 11, 1966, while on an official tour to Russia, Lal Bahadur Shastri died of a heart attack. In 1966, after his death, he was recognised with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, which is India’s highest civilian honour.