On the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, his son and former Member of Parliament Anil Shastri on Friday, 2 October drew a direct parallel between his father and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying both leaders share the same thinking when it comes to ordering retaliatory military action against Pakistan. The remarks came in New Delhi on what would have been Shastri's birth anniversary.

The Comparison to Operation Sindoor

Anil Shastri recalled how, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, his father ordered the armed forces to launch a counterattack after Pakistan crossed the international border and struck the Chhamb sector. 'When Pakistan crossed the international border and launched an attack in the Chhamb sector, Shastri ji ordered the armed forces to launch a counterattack and include Lahore in it. Following the instructions, our army advanced towards Lahore. And now, through Operation Sindoor, our armed forces carried out surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan. In this regard, I believe that the thinking of both leaders has been the same,' he said.

He described Operation Sindoor as 'an absolutely right decision', drawing an explicit line between his father's decisive 1965 response and the current government's military posture.

Strong Words on Kashmir and Pakistan

Anil Shastri was unequivocal on the question of Jammu and Kashmir, calling it 'an integral part of India and a symbol of our unity and integrity.' He warned that Pakistan's ambitions over the region would 'always fail', regardless of which external powers — including China or the United States — it sought support from. He further demanded that Pakistan return the territory it has 'illegally occupied', a reference to Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

'Whether it seeks China's help, America's help or that of anyone else, Pakistan cannot separate Kashmir from India. In fact, they should also return the territory they have occupied illegally,' he said.

Remembering Shastri's Legacy and 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'

Beyond the military parallel, Anil Shastri reflected on his father's personal simplicity and enduring ideological relevance. He noted that Prime Minister Modi continues to invoke Lal Bahadur Shastri's name and his iconic slogan 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' from the ramparts of the Red Fort every 15 August, underscoring a cross-party respect for the late leader.

'On his birth anniversary, we should remember Lal Bahadur Shastri not merely as an individual, but remember his ideals, his thinking, his ideology, his honesty and his commitment to the country,' he said, calling on the current generation to internalise those values.

A Personal Anecdote Behind the Slogan

Anil Shastri also shared a personal memory from his teens — accompanying his father to an Allahabad constituency meeting where the slogan was first raised publicly. When the young Anil asked what it meant, his father explained: 'A country which is unable to take care of its borders, defend itself and is unable to feed its population, will never be respected by other countries in the world.' The anecdote underlines how Shastri's philosophy was rooted in practical national security as much as in agrarian welfare.

The remarks arrive at a charged moment in India-Pakistan relations, with Operation Sindoor still fresh in public consciousness, and they are likely to fuel further debate over the historical continuities — and discontinuities — in India's strategic doctrine toward its western neighbour.