New Delhi [India], June 12 : President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday expressed grief over former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's demise in an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
In a post on X, President Murmu said that Vijay Rupani was always committed to the welfare of the people.
"The loss of lives after the plane crash at Ahmedabad is utterly devastating. My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The country has also lost the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani Ji in the tragedy. Rupani Ji was always committed to people's welfare. I express my heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers," the President wrote on X.
https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1933198393297293385
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people, including 12 crew members, crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
Air India said that among the 230 passengers, 169 were Indians, 53 were British, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian.
Several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders also mourned the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was onboard the London-bound Air India flight that crashed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on Thursday.
In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Vijay Rupani will be remembered as a grassroots leader who devoted his life to the development and welfare of his state.
"Deeply pained by the tragic demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ji in the unfortunate plane crash in Ahmedabad. He will be remembered as a grassroots leader who devoted his life for the development & welfare of his state. Condolences to his bereaved family. Om Shanti," Rajnath Singh said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami termed the demise of Vijay Rupani as an "irreparable" loss for Indian politics.
"The news of the demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shri Vijay Rupani ji in the unfortunate plane crash in Ahmedabad is extremely painful and shocking. This is an irreparable loss not only for Gujarat but also for Indian politics," CM wrote on X.
Vijay Rupani was a two-time Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021. Rupani was also appointed the BJP's in-charge for Punjab.