Rajkot bids teary farewell to former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani

Thousands of people in Rajkot joined the funeral ceremony of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who died in last week's deadly Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 270 people.

Several people, including women, who were teary-eyed, showered flowers and folded their hands as they bid a final goodbye to Rupani (68), whose last rites were held with full state honours. The final journey spanned six kilometres from his home to the funeral site.

The Gujarat government has declared a one-day state mourning today in memory of Rupani.

BJP chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Rajkot to participate in Rupani's funeral. The former Gujarat Chief Minister's son, Rishabh, was also present at the last rites.

Purnesh Modi, a former state minister, recalled Rupani's words that any work is neither big nor small.

"Vijaybhai had approved Surat's draft plan 2030. The development of Surat today is due to him. As a party worker, Vijaybhai had said that whatever responsibility the party gives, it should be fulfilled. No work is big and small. We should always keep working," Modi said.

Rupani served as the Gujarat Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021. He resigned months before the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls as part of the BJP's strategy to induce a fresh face ahead of the elections. He was the BJP's in-charge for Punjab and Chandigarh.

Even within Gujarat, Rupani played an instrumental role in helping the BJP win a record 156 of 182 seats, strengthening the party's hold in the state since 1995.

Rupani was among the 242 people aboard the doomed Flight AI171 that took off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12 and was en route to London's Gatwick airport. The BJP leader was on his way to meet his daughter in the British capital.

Three days after the crash, Rupani's body was identified through DNA testing and his remains were handed over to his family. His body was airlifted from Ahmedabad to Rajkot for the funeral.