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Rupani, 68, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from August 2016 to September 2021, was among those killed in the crash
Union Home Minister Amit Shah with former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. (Image via X/@AmitShah)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who died in Thursday’s tragic Air India crash, remembering him in his first public remarks as a dedicated leader with a “calm and thoughtful” nature.
Rupani, 68, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from August 2016 to September 2021, was among those killed in the crash.
In a detailed post on X Friday, Shah wrote, “I worked for a long time in the organisation with former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani ji.”
“Whether it was strengthening the organisation as the state president or keeping Gujarat’s development journey moving as the Chief Minister, Vijaybhai fulfilled every responsibility with full responsibility. It is difficult to believe that he is no longer amongst us,” he added.
गुजरात के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री विजयभाई रूपाणी जी के साथ संगठन में लम्बे समय तक कार्य किया। चाहे प्रदेश अध्यक्ष के रूप में संगठन को सशक्त करना हो या मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में गुजरात की विकास यात्रा को गतिशील रखना हो, विजयभाई ने हर दायित्व को पूरी जिम्मेदारी के साथ निभाया। यह विश्वास… pic.twitter.com/foE3zpi9ov— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 13, 2025
The Union Home Minister added that Rupani was “calm and thoughtful” by nature, and praised his loyalty and discipline towards the party. “Rupani ji’s loyalty and discipline towards the organization was amazing.”
Shah further said he had met Rupani just days before the crash and had a detailed discussion about organisational matters in Punjab.
“I spoke to his wife Mrs. Anjali Rupani ji and expressed my deepest condolences. The entire BJP family stands with them in this hour of grief. May God give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” he stated.
Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. The London-bound flight had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Tragically, 241 people were killed in the crash, with only one passenger surviving the accident miraculously.
The aircraft crashed into a residential area near the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad. Police reported that victims included students from nearby medical college hostels. So far, 265 bodies have been taken to the civil hospital, but officials have not yet confirmed the final death toll.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met the injured at the hospital. He also visited Rupani’s family to offer his condolences.
“Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party’s ideology. Rising up the ranks, he held various responsibilities in the Organisation and went on to serve diligently as Gujarat’s Chief Minister,” PM Modi later shared on X.
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Gujarat, India, India
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