Rajkot: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were among the top dignitaries who paid their final respects to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Rajkot, where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour before his last rites.
Thousands of residents lined the streets of Rajkot even in rain to pay tribute as his mortal remains were carried through key city areas including Amrapali Bridge and Kisanpara Chowk. Citizens offered flowers and chanted slogans like “Vijaybhai Amar Raho” (Long live Vijaybhai).
After consoling Rupani’s wife Anjaliben and son Rushabh at their residence, Amit Shah and Bhupendra Patel departed. Earlier, both leaders, along with a heavy police convoy, arrived at the Rupani home to offer their condolences in person.
Amit Shah, Governor Acharya Devvrat, BJP state president C.R. Patil, and former Deputy CM Nitin Patel were present in Rajkot to join the funeral procession and express their solidarity with the grieving family. Many BJP leaders, party workers, and supporters gathered in large numbers at the residence and along the procession route.
Rupani, who tragically died in the Air India Flight AI-171 crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad, was formally identified via DNA testing nearly 70 hours after the incident. His body was flown from Ahmedabad to Rajkot’s Hirasar Airport and then transported to Greenland Chowkdi, from where a public procession began.
In a solemn ceremony attended by CM Bhupendra Patel, Vijay Rupani was honored with a Guard of Honour. His final rites will be performed today in Rajkot. A state-wide day of mourning was declared, with flags at half-mast on government buildings across Gujarat.