Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani tragically lost his life on Thursday after an Air India aircraft carrying 242 people crashed near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The news was confirmed by Union Jal Shakti Minister and Gujarat BJP President CR Paatil, who stated, “The BJP family is deeply saddened by the loss of Vijay Rupani. May God grant peace to all the departed souls and strength to their families.”
Shri Rupani, a senior BJP leader, served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021 and represented the Rajkot constituency in the state legislative assembly. The ill-fated London-bound Air India flight AI 171 was carrying 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, one Canadian, two pilots, and ten crew members.
Elets Technomedia deeply mourns the untimely and tragic passing of the honourable former CM, along with all others who lost their lives in the crash. As Shri Rupani Ji embarks on his final journey, the entire Elets family grieves this profound loss and prays for peace for his noble soul.
A staunch proponent of digital governance, the former CM was a steadfast supporter of Elets Technomedia’s initiatives. His presence as Chief Guest at our Smart City Summits in Surat (2017 & 2018) and Rajkot (2018), during his tenure as Chief Minister, was an immense honour. He also unveiled several special editions of eGov magazine, enriching them with his visionary insights.
Shri Rupani’s commitment to innovation was also evident in his words to eGov magazine in June 2018: “We have been encouraging entrepreneurs and innovators through funding, mentoring and incubation under various state policies. Gujarat has introduced several initiatives, including the Gujarat Startup/Innovation Scheme, Gujarat Electronics & IT/ITeS Startup Policy 2016, and Student Startup & Innovation Policy 2017.”
He had also championed the creation of the Rs 250 crore GVFL Startup Fund and the establishment of the iCreate Centre of Excellence to support next-generation entrepreneurs.
His unwavering encouragement and guidance meant a great deal to Elets and the wider governance and innovation ecosystem — his absence will be deeply felt.