Our nation's true people's leader was taken from us": Sunil Shastri

Udaipur (Dr. Munesh Arora) – Sunil Shastri, son of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, has called for a high-level investigation into his father’s death, claiming that Shastri did not die of a heart attack but was taken from them under suspicious circumstances. In an interview after receiving an honorary D.Litt. degree at SPS University, he described his father as the true people's leader, who dedicated his life to the nation.

Sunil Shastri mentioned that he has been raising this demand for a long time and has requested a probe from both former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “I was only 15-16 years old when my father was allegedly assassinated, but even today, I am haunted by the idea that his death was labeled a heart attack, which is far from the truth.”

Highlighting Lal Bahadur Shastri’s contributions, Sunil Shastri said the famous slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" was a reflection of the country’s needs and honor at the time. Sunil also recounted that during India’s food crisis, his father had launched the weekly fast initiative on the advice of Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution. Before asking the nation to observe a weekly fast, the entire Shastri family practiced it for a week to ensure it could be done.

Sunil Shastri shared that his father always kept his doors open to the public, a quality that won him the love and admiration of the people. Even as Prime Minister, he lived a simple life, kept security minimal, and was accessible to ordinary citizens, which he believed made him a true leader.

He further revealed that Shastri Ji paid attention to small expenses and always aimed to reduce the nation's burden. For instance, while staying at the Prime Minister's residence, he would dry his soap after every use to extend its life. During his tenure as Railway Minister, he improved third-class train compartments by adding comfortable bedding.

In conclusion, Sunil Shastri emphasized the need to uncover the truth about his father’s death, describing Lal Bahadur Shastri as a visionary leader and people’s hero who still deserves a clear investigation into the circumstances of his untimely demise.