INDIA's prime minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to his longtime colleague Vijay Rupani, the former Gujarat chief minister who died in Thursday's (12) devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
Speaking after meeting Rupani's family on Friday (13), Modi said it was "unimaginable" that his old friend was no longer with them.
"I've known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times," the prime minister wrote on social media.
Modi described Rupani as "humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the party's ideology" and praised his rise through the ranks to serve as Gujarat's chief minister.
The 68-year-old BJP leader was among 242 people aboard the London-bound Air India flight that crashed into a medical college building moments after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon. Only one person survived the tragedy, which claimed 265 lives in total.
Rupani was travelling to visit his daughter in London, where his wife Anjaliben was already staying. She returned to India on Friday morning.
The former chief minister had a peculiar connection to the crash date - he considered 1206 his lucky number and used it on all his vehicle registration plates throughout his career. The number has now become synonymous with his final journey on June 12 (12/6).
Modi visited the crash site on Friday morning and met the lone survivor before holding a review meeting with Gujarat government officials near the airport.
Rupani served as Gujarat's chief minister from August 2016 to September 2021, steering the state through challenging times including the Patidar community protests and the post-Covid recovery period. He stepped down in September 2021, making way for current chief minister Bhupendra Patel ahead of state elections.
FILE PHOTO: Vijay Rupani (L) with Narendra Modi (Photo: X/@narendramodi)
His political journey began in student activism with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad during his college days. In 1975, he was jailed for a year in Bhavnagar for protesting against the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi's government.
He entered public service in 1987 as a Rajkot Municipal Corporation councillor and later became mayor. Between 2006 and 2012, he served as a Rajya Sabha member before Modi appointed him chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board.
As chief minister, Rupani launched the state Industrial Policy 2020 and championed tribal development initiatives. He was known for his composed manner and firm administrative style during his tenure.
After stepping down as chief minister, Rupani was appointed as the BJP's in-charge for Punjab, a role he held until his death.
The crash has sent shockwaves through Gujarat's political circles, where Rupani was respected across party lines for his dedication and service to the state over nearly three decades in public life.
(with inputs from PTI)
