PM Modi invokes JP, Lohia, Shastri, ignores Nehru-Gandhi family

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday studiously ignored the Nehru-Gandhi family legacy even as he invoked "sons of India" like Jayprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Lal Bahadur Shastri in his much-awaited New Year's address to the nation.

"Citizens displayed such patience, had Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jayprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia been alive, they would have blessed them," the Prime Minister said.

Speaking in English later, he also invoked Congress leader K. Kamraj, who was Congress president between 1964-1967.

Modi also invoked Mahatma Gandhi, as well as Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhyay.