PM, Sonia, Advani pay homage to Shastri on his 105th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Oct.2 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries paid homage at the Samadhi of the late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary on Friday (Oct.2) here.

Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Lal Krishna Advani also paid their tributes at Vijay Ghat, Shastri's Samadhi in the national capital.

Shastri joined Gandhiji's Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and also participated in the Quit India Movement.

Shastri joined Nehru's Cabinet in 1952 and after Nehru's death, he took over as the second Prime Minister of India in 1964.

On June 11, 1964 Shastri, in his first broadcast as Prime Minister, said:

"There comes a time in the life of every nation when it stands at the cross-roads of history and must choose which way to go. But for us there need be no difficulty or hesitation, no looking to right or left. Our way is straight and clear - the building up of a socialist democracy at home with freedom and prosperity for all, and the maintenance of world peace and friendship with all nations.

Lal Bahadur was born on October 2 in 1904 in Ram Nagar, Ahmedabad Mughalsarai, United Provinces, British India as Lal Bahadur Shastri.

He died in 1966. (ANI)