on Friday met the family members of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and remembered him as a humble and hardworking leader. Rupani, 68, was among the 241 passengers of the London-bound flight who died in the horrific crash on Thursday afternoon. The last rites Rupani will be held in Rajkot on Saturday. “Met the family of Shri Vijaybhai Rupani Ji. 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,” Modi said in his posts on X. “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,” he said. In every role assigned, he distinguished himself, be it in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, as Rajya Sabha MP, as Gujarat BJP President and as Cabinet Minister in the State Government, Modi said. “Vijaybhai and I also worked extensively when he was Gujarat CM. He ushered in many measures that enhanced Gujarat’s growth trajectory, particularly in boosting Ease of Living. Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” the PM said. The PM met the former Chief Minister’s wife Anjali Rupani and other family members at GujSail building near the airport.