PM Modi Pays Tribute to Gandhi and Shastri on Birth Anniversary, Stresses Swadeshi as True Path to Self-Reliant India

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid heartfelt tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries, underlining their enduring influence on India’s journey of development and self-reliance.

In a post on X, Modi wrote, “Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history. He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change.”

The Prime Minister said Gandhi firmly believed in service and compassion as powerful tools to empower people. He also emphasized that embracing swadeshi and purchasing products made by Indians would be the true tribute to both Gandhi and Shastri. “Swadeshi is the foundation of a self-reliant and developed India,” Modi added.

Remembering Lal Bahadur Shastri, Modi hailed him as “an extraordinary statesman whose integrity, humility, and determination strengthened India.” He praised Shastri’s iconic slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan,” noting that it continues to inspire patriotism and national pride. “He personified exemplary leadership, strength and decisive action,” the PM said.

Mahatma Gandhi, born in Gujarat in 1869, is revered as the guiding force behind India’s independence through the principles of truth and non-violence, influencing movements worldwide. Lal Bahadur Shastri, born in Uttar Pradesh in 1904, served as India’s second Prime Minister. Despite his brief tenure, he won universal respect for his honesty and leadership, particularly during the 1965 war with Pakistan.