New Delhi: January 11, 2019, marks the 53rd death anniversary of India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Though it is widely believed that he died due to a heart attack, some people, including his wife, allege that he was poisoned.

 As the nation still ponders the mysteries surrounding former Prime Minister’s death, here are some famous quotes by the much loved Congress leader.

Check out the quotes here

“If I were a dictator, religion and state would be separate. I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The State has nothing to do with it. The State would look after secular welfare, health, communications, foreign relations, currency and so on, but not your or my religion. That is everybody’s personal concern.”

“We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.”

“The economic issues are most vital for us and it is of the highest importance that we should fight our biggest enemies – Poverty, unemployment.”

“Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.”

“Among the major tasks before us none is of greater importance for our strength and stability than the task of building up the unity and solidarity of our people.”

“The preservation of freedom, is not the task of soldiers alone. The whole nation has to be strong.”

“If Pakistan has any ideas of annexing any part of our territories by force, she should think afresh. I want to state categorically that force will be met with force and aggression against us will never be allowed to succeed.”

“I tremble when I am reminded of the fact that I have to be in charge of this country and Parliament, which had been led by no less a person than Jawaharlal Nehru.”

“We believe in freedom, freedom for the people of each country to follow their destiny without external interference.”

"The rule of law should be respected so that the basic structure of our democracy is maintained and further strengthened.”