Tashkent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described Lal Bahadur Shastri as a proud son of India, as he paid glowing tribute to the former premier who died here following a heart attack in 1966.

“Paying tributes to the proud son of India, the inspiring Lal Bahadur Shastri ji,” Modi tweeted after paying tribute to the second Prime Minister of India.

Modi paid tribute to him at a bust erected in Shastri’s memory.

A prominent figure in the independence movement, Shastri died of a heart attack in Tashkent in 1966 during an official visit at the age of 61.

Shastri had taken over the office of Prime Minister after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964.

He is best remembered for his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ which was aimed at encouraging the farmers for a better yield to reduce country’s dependence on imported food grains while also to infuse renewed enthusiasm in soldiers fighting the Indo-Pak war of 1965.

“We are thankful to the people of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, for preserving the legacy of our former Prime Minister,” Modi had said yesterday.

Modi, who arrived here yesterday on the first leg of his eight-day visit to Central Asia and Russia, also paid tribute at the National Monument of Independence and Humanism.

Later, Modi flew to Kazakhstan where he was received by Prime Minister Karim Massimov at the airport.

“I am happy to be in Kazakhstan, India’s very valued friend in Central Asia,” Modi tweeted.

“Thank you PM Karim Massimov for the memorable welcome,” he wrote in another tweet along with his picture with Massimov.

PTI