The Crossbill News Desk
Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani’s family has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refused to bear the expenses of his grand funeral, leaving them shocked and forced to settle bills worth a staggering Rs 25 lakh.
The controversy has stirred a political storm in Gujarat, with state BJP president and Union minister C.R. Patil evading questions about the matter during his visit to Rajkot on Sunday (September 14) to attend a ‘Namotsav’ program.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, the issue has fueled speculation of deep internal rifts within the party’s Saurashtra faction.
The controversy emerged three months after Rupani’s funeral procession was held in Rajkot on June 16, during which Patil, along with Union home minister Amit Shah, chief minister Bhupendra Patel, and several top BJP leaders, were present to bid farewell to the late leader.
Rupani was among the 242 passengers on the ill-fated Air India flight AI171 that crashed near Ahmedabad airport moments after takeoff on June 12, 2025.
The family reportedly came to know about the unpaid funeral expenses when traders who supplied materials such as flowers, tents, and other arrangements arrived at their doorstep demanding payment.
Forced into an awkward position, Rupani’s family began clearing the debts themselves. The situation has since led to murmurs of betrayal spreading through the party ranks.
On Sunday, Patil held closed-door meetings with MLAs and organisational leaders at the Circuit House, as per the TNIE report.
However, when reporters confronted him outside the event about the Rupani funeral expenses, Patil sidestepped the issue, remarking vaguely, “This is a Namotsav matter, I will definitely answer later,” before briskly moving away.
The decision to deny payment is reportedly driven by two powerful Saurashtra leaders, indicating a simmering power struggle within the party.
With Rupani’s family still grappling with grief, the added financial burden has sparked outrage and threatens to tarnish the BJP’s image ahead of crucial elections.
The controversy has stirred a political storm in Gujarat, with state BJP president and Union minister C.R. Patil evading questions about the matter during his visit to Rajkot on Sunday (September 14) to attend a ‘Namotsav’ program.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, the issue has fueled speculation of deep internal rifts within the party’s Saurashtra faction.
The controversy emerged three months after Rupani’s funeral procession was held in Rajkot on June 16, during which Patil, along with Union home minister Amit Shah, chief minister Bhupendra Patel, and several top BJP leaders, were present to bid farewell to the late leader.
Rupani was among the 242 passengers on the ill-fated Air India flight AI171 that crashed near Ahmedabad airport moments after takeoff on June 12, 2025.
The family reportedly came to know about the unpaid funeral expenses when traders who supplied materials such as flowers, tents, and other arrangements arrived at their doorstep demanding payment.
Forced into an awkward position, Rupani’s family began clearing the debts themselves. The situation has since led to murmurs of betrayal spreading through the party ranks.
On Sunday, Patil held closed-door meetings with MLAs and organisational leaders at the Circuit House, as per the TNIE report.
However, when reporters confronted him outside the event about the Rupani funeral expenses, Patil sidestepped the issue, remarking vaguely, “This is a Namotsav matter, I will definitely answer later,” before briskly moving away.
The decision to deny payment is reportedly driven by two powerful Saurashtra leaders, indicating a simmering power struggle within the party.
With Rupani’s family still grappling with grief, the added financial burden has sparked outrage and threatens to tarnish the BJP’s image ahead of crucial elections.
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