PM Modi Mourns Vijay Rupani After Plane Crash Tragedy

In a deeply emotional moment for Indian politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid a personal visit to the grieving family of Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who was among the many killed in the catastrophic Air India plane crash on Thursday.

Rupani, a veteran politician and a close aide of the Prime Minister, was on board the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The crash claimed the lives of all passengers and crew — including Rupani, 169 Indian nationals, 52 British citizens, and others — marking one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.

As news of Rupani’s death sent shockwaves through the nation, Prime Minister Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartfelt tribute to the man he had worked alongside for decades.

“It is unimaginable that Vijaybhai is not in our midst. I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times,” the Prime Minister wrote.

Modi’s visit to the Rupani family in Rajkot was marked by visible sorrow. Accompanied by senior BJP leaders and security personnel, Modi offered his condolences, spending several moments with family members — a rare personal gesture that underlined the deep political and emotional bond the two leaders shared.

“Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief,” Modi added in his post.

Rupani, who served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, was a well-regarded figure in state and national politics, known for his quiet, effective leadership and organizational acumen within the BJP. His tenure was marked by infrastructural development, administrative reforms, and a firm alignment with Modi’s national vision for growth.

Modi described him as “humble and hardworking” and someone who had served “diligently” in his time as Gujarat’s top executive.

In the wake of the crash, tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Leaders from the Congress party, regional parties, and civil society have all expressed shock and extended condolences, particularly acknowledging Rupani’s contributions to Gujarat’s governance.

The Air India flight, bound for London, crashed into a building used for medical staff accommodation at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital, just minutes after takeoff. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, though early reports suggest a sudden mechanical failure mid-air. A full inquiry has been launched by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In the midst of national mourning, Modi’s message has resonated with many who saw Rupani as part of the core leadership that helped shape the BJP’s rise in Gujarat and, eventually, India.

The Prime Minister’s deeply personal tone in the wake of the tragedy has not gone unnoticed. His words carried the weight of decades of shared political life, and for those familiar with Modi’s rarely public emotional expressions, the message on X served as both a eulogy and a tribute.

As India prepares to cremate and honor those lost in the tragedy, Vijay Rupani’s legacy will be remembered not just through his political career, but through the very personal loss felt by his closest ally — the Prime Minister of India himself.


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