HP CM Sukhu pays tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary
Synopsis
On the 42nd anniversary of Indira Gandhi's assassination, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tribute quoting her vow that every drop of her blood would keep India alive, calling her a symbol of courage, dedication, and strength.
Key Takeaways
HP Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, 31 October .
The tribute quoted Gandhi's declaration: 'As long as there is breath in me, I will keep serving the people.' Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 , having served as PM during 1966–1977 and 1980–1984 .
Sukhu, in power since December 2022 , belongs to the Indian National Congress — the party Gandhi led.
Annual tributes to Gandhi from Congress-governed states on this date are a consistent feature of the party's commemorative calendar.
Forty-two years after her assassination, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is remembered not with silence but with the words she left behind — words that still carry the weight of a life given entirely to the nation. On 31 October, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid a heartfelt tribute to Gandhi, quoting her own declaration of selfless service and invoking her as a symbol of courage, dedication, and strength.
The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh posted the tribute on X, citing Gandhi's own words: 'Jab tak mujhme saans hai, tab tak janseva karti rahungi.' — 'As long as there is breath in me, I will keep serving the people. When my life goes, I can say that every drop of my blood will keep India alive.' CM Sukhu concluded with a shat-shat naman — a hundredfold salutation — to the late leader, describing her as a synonym for courage, dedication, and power.
The words that outlived a life
The quote carries a haunting prescience. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 by her own security guards at her residence in New Delhi — a date that has since become one of the most solemn in India's political calendar. She had served as Prime Minister across two tenures: 1966–1977 and 1980–1984, shaping some of the most consequential chapters in independent India's history. For the Congress party, she remains the defining figure of decisive, centralised leadership.
Sukhu's tribute in the Congress tradition
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has led Himachal Pradesh since December 2022, belongs to the Indian National Congress — the party Indira Gandhi led and transformed. Annual tributes to her on this date are a deeply embedded ritual across Congress-governed states, a visible reaffirmation of ideological continuity. Sukhu's post follows that tradition but grounds it in Gandhi's own language, letting her conviction speak for the tribute.
As other Congress-ruled states and the national party leadership mark the anniversary in their own ways, the date itself remains a fixed point on India's political calendar — a reminder that some voices, once raised for a nation, never entirely go quiet.
Point of View
Especially as the party navigates its identity in opposition-heavy national politics. For Sukhu, leading a Congress government in a state where the party beat incumbency odds in 2022, invoking Gandhi's sacrifice and resolve reinforces a leadership lineage the party hopes voters still find credible. The choice to quote Gandhi's own prophetic words — rather than offer generic praise — signals a more personal and pointed form of commemoration. It places the emphasis not on nostalgia but on continuity of purpose.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 31 October significant in Indian politics?
31 October 1984 is the date former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated at her New Delhi residence. It is observed each year as her death anniversary and is among the most solemn dates on India's political calendar.
Who is Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu?
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh , in office since December 2022 , representing the Indian National Congress .
What did CM Sukhu say about Indira Gandhi?
CM Sukhu quoted Indira Gandhi's vow — 'As long as there is breath in me, I will keep serving the people. Every drop of my blood will keep India alive' — and paid her a 'shat-shat naman', calling her a symbol of courage, dedication, and strength.
How long did Indira Gandhi serve as Prime Minister of India?
Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India in two tenures: 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984 .
Do other Congress states also pay tribute to Indira Gandhi on 31 October?
Yes. Tributes to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary are a consistent practice across Congress-governed states and from national party leadership, forming part of the party's annual commemorative calendar.
