A code of conduct for people in public life is very much necessary, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said Monday, as he hailed former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri for his "integrity and moral uprightness". Naidu, while addressing a gathering at the presentation ceremony of the 19th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration to eminent jurist Fali S Nariman, also said there was a need to revisit the education system and highlight the contributions of "great" leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Shastri.

Urging people to follow the example of Shastri, he said, "Even after 52 years of his demise, we still remember him for his values, commitment, courage, and also dedication." What made Shastri a unique politician was the fact that he did not have two sets of principles -- one for public consumption and the other for personal life, Naidu said. "You will be surprised to know that he got a code of conduct (published) for those who are in public life. I feel it is very much necessary even today. More necessary and more relevant to have a code of conduct for the people in public life...which is lacking," Naidu said.