Updated 13 June 2025 at 18:52 IST
All government and private schools in Rajkot will remain closed tomorrow as a mark of respect for former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tragically lost his life in Thursday’s Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
The district administration announced the closure late Friday evening, urging educational institutions to observe silence in remembrance of the late leader.
Former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, 68, was among the 241 passengers aboard a London-bound Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. His untimely demise has shocked the political and public landscape of Gujarat and India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site in Ahmedabad on Friday and later met with the victims undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. In an emotional moment, the Prime Minister also visited the family of the late Rupani at the GujSail building near the airport, offering condolences and recalling decades of shared political work.
“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,” PM Modi shared in a post on social media platform X.
He remembered Rupani as “humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party's ideology,” highlighting his contributions in various political and administrative roles—from the Rajkot Municipal Corporation to the Rajya Sabha, and as Gujarat BJP President and Cabinet Minister.
Rupani was particularly beloved in Rajkot, where he served as an MLA and began his political journey. His two terms as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 were marked by significant development initiatives, especially aimed at improving governance, infrastructure, and ease of living.
Even after stepping down as CM, Rupani remained actively involved in national politics and was currently serving as the BJP’s in-charge for Punjab.
His passing has prompted tributes from across the political spectrum, with leaders and citizens alike mourning the loss of a leader known for his calm demeanor, administrative clarity, and grassroots connect.
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Published 13 June 2025 at 18:05 IST