Tashkent: The death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, India’s second Prime Minister, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on January 11, 1966, just hours after signing the Tashkent Declaration to end the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, remains shrouded in controversy and speculation. Today is the 59th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He died in Tashkent, and every Indian still wants to know how did his last four hours went.
This death was not an ordinary death, the mystery of which is still unsolved. Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was the country’s Prime Minister for just 19 months, made the world realize the power of India. Then Pakistan had to pay a heavy price for joking about Lal Bahadur Shastri’s short height and when the war took place in the year 1965, the Indian army had reached close to the city of Lahore.
Pakistani President General Ayub Khan used to judge any leader by his stature. Lal Bahadur Shastri was 5 feet 2 inches tall and Ayub Khan, who was 6 feet 2 inches tall, felt that Shastri ji would not be able to run the country. After the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, Ayub Khan canceled his visit to India and said that who is there in India to talk to.
Theories That Became Controversy
The official cause of Lal Bahadur Shastri death was reported as a heart attack. However, several factors have fueled persistent conspiracy theories:
- Lack of Post-Mortem: No post-mortem examination was conducted in Tashkent or upon the return of his body to India, raising questions about the certainty of the official cause of death.
- Unusual Body Appearance: Some accounts suggest Shastri’s body had turned blue, a symptom not typically associated with a heart attack, leading to suspicions of poisoning.
- Conflicting Accounts: Discrepancies in the accounts of those present in Tashkent, including his personal staff, further fueled doubts.
- Missing Evidence: The absence of a proper inquiry and the alleged disappearance of key witnesses and evidence have added to the mystery.
These factors have led to various theories, including poisoning, possibly at the hands of foreign powers or internal political rivals. Some even suspect foul play related to the Tashkent Declaration itself, which was unpopular with some in India.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates