Gujarat assembly pays tributes to Air India plane crash victims and ex-CM Rupani

Gandhinagar, Sept 8 (PTI) The Gujarat assembly on Monday paid homage to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was killed in the June 12 devastating Air India plane crash along with other passengers.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel hailed Rupani as a transparent, gentle, and visionary leader who rose through the ranks, starting as a student leader of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft en route to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad shortly after take off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12.

The aircraft burst into flames, killing 241 out of 242 people onboard, including Rupani, and 19 individuals on the ground, including four medical students.

"As a true soldier of democracy, young Rupani had spent nearly one year in jail during the Emergency. He started his political career in 1980 after getting elected to the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. He then went on to become Rajkot's Mayor," the chief minister told the House on the first day of the three-day monsoon session.

Rupani was known as an able leader and visionary who always believed in dialogue rather than creating differences, said Patel.

"Thanks to his qualities, he was given key positions in the BJP organisation. Before being chosen as Gujarat's CM, Rupani had served as a Rajya Sabha member, state BJP's spokesperson, general secretary, and the president of the state unit," he said.

Rupani was elected as an MLA in 2014 and made Transport Minister in the Anandiben Patel government. In August 2016, he assumed the office of CM for the first time.

"During his tenure from 2016 to 2021, Rupani worked on several key issues, such as employment and water scarcity. He was instrumental in starting a state-wide school health programme, organising Vibrant Gujarat Summits and providing digital connectivity to villages," said Patel.

He revealed that Rupani ensured education for orphan children through the trust set up in memory of his late son, Pujit.

"Thanks to Rupani's relentless efforts over the years, Rajkot received All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and an international airport," he said.

First-time MLA of Aam Aadmi Party, Gopal Italia, said Rupani was made the CM when Patidar quota agitation was at its peak.

"I was also associated with the agitation, like many others. However, Rupani never held any grudge against any one of us. He never tried to put us behind bars for being part of that agitation. People who aspire to be a leader should learn from Rupani's life and his qualities," said Italia.

After the House was adjourned, Rupani's photograph was unveiled at the podium of the assembly complex by Patel and Speaker Shankar Chaudhary in the presence of former CM's family members. PTI PJT NSK