Foreign policies

Shastri continued Nehrus policy of non alignment but also built closer relations with the Soviet Union. In the aftermath of the Sino Indian War of 1962 and the formation of military ties between the Chinese Peoples Republic and Pakistan, Shastris government decided to expand the defence budget of Indias armed forces.In 1964, Shastri signed an accord with the Sri Lankan Prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike regarding the status of Indian Tamils in the then Ceylon.This agreement is also known as the Srimavo Shastri Pact or the Bandaranaike Shastri pact.Under the terms of this agreement, 600,000 Indian Tamils were to be repatriated, while 375,000 were to be granted Sri Lankan citizenship. This settlement was to be done by 31 October 1981. However, after Shastris death, by 1981, India had taken only 300,000 Tamils as repatriates, while Sri Lanka had granted citizenship to only 185,000 citizens (plus another 62,000 born after 1964). Later, India declined to consider any further applications for citizenship, stating that the 1964 agreement had lapsed.

In December 1965 Lal Bahadur Shastri made an official visit with his Family to Rangoon, Burma and re established a cordial relation with the countrys Military government of General Ne Win. Indias relationship with Burma stained after the 1962 Military coup followed by Lakhs of Indian Family most of them are Tamils and Bengalis repatriate to India from 1964.The central government in New Delhi monitored the overall process of repatriation and arranged for identification and then transportation of the Indian returnees from Burma back into India, it fell under the responsibilities of local governments to provide adequate facilities to shelter the repatriates upon disembarkation on Indian soil. Particularly in the Madras State the Chief Minister during that time Mr. Minjur K. Bhaktavatsalam shown great care in rehabilitation of the returnees.