New Delhi, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former MP Anil Shastri, son of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, on Friday drew parallels between his father’s approach to responding to Pakistan and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying both leaders demonstrated a willingness to order military retaliation.
Speaking to IANS on his father’s birth anniversary, Anil Shastri recalled the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, when Pakistan attacked the Chhamb sector after crossing the international border. He said Lal Bahadur Shastri had directed the armed forces to launch a counteroffensive that included advancing towards Lahore.
Drawing a comparison with the military action under Operation Sindoor, Anil Shastri said India’s armed forces had carried out strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan. He described the two leaders’ approaches to responding to Pakistan as similar.
Anil Shastri also backed Operation Sindoor, calling it an “absolutely right decision”. He said Pakistan should understand that India would respond forcefully to any aggression and asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of the country.
He said Pakistan’s efforts to gain control of Jammu and Kashmir would not succeed, regardless of whether it sought support from China, the United States or any other country. He also called on Pakistan to return the territory of Kashmir under its occupation, which he described as illegally occupied.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Anil Shastri recalled Lal Bahadur Shastri’s simple lifestyle and noted that political thinking and circumstances evolve over time. He said Prime Minister Modi continued to refer to the former Prime Minister and his iconic slogan, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, during Independence Day addresses from the Red Fort.
Anil Shastri said Lal Bahadur Shastri should be remembered not only as a former Prime Minister but also for his ideals, honesty, commitment to the country and political philosophy. He stressed the importance of passing these values on to the younger generation, adding that “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” remained relevant.
He also recounted an incident from his teenage years when he accompanied his father to his Allahabad constituency. During a meeting at one of the blocks, Lal Bahadur Shastri raised the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. Anil Shastri later asked his father about its meaning while they were returning by car.
According to Anil Shastri, his father explained that a country unable to protect its borders, defend itself and feed its population would not command respect from other nations.
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