Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday paid the last rites of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana. Abdullah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Ahmed Rana, and Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi.

The 59-year-old Rana, BJP MLA from Nagrota and brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Haryana’s Faridabad.

Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.

“The terrible news from late last night isn’t really sinking in. I know the last few years have been marked by our differences Devender but I prefer to focus on the fun times we shared together, the excellent work we did together & the memories. You have been taken from us all too soon & will be missed. May your soul rest in peace now DSR. My heart goes out to your family as I struggle to find the words to convey my condolences to them,” the Chief Minister posted on X.

Apart from Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those who attended the last rites of Rana.

On his demise, the National Conference party said: “JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President & Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Devender Rana, MLA Nagrota. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters, acknowledging his dedicated service and contributions to the people of J&K. The JKNC leadership and party members stand in solidarity with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Rana and said he was a veteran leader who worked diligently towards Jammu and Kashmir’s progress.

“Shri Devender Singh Rana Ji’s untimely demise is shocking. He had just won the Assembly polls and had also played a noteworthy role in making the BJP stronger in J&K. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said on X.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Rana, who was always dedicated to the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir and the interests of the people, made an invaluable contribution to the progress of the region. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP family, he added.

BJP chief JP Nadda also paid tribute to the party leader and said: “His dedication to public service and contributions towards the development of the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be remembered. His departure is an irreparable loss to the party”.

Rana’s elder brother and Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X, “Untimely demise of my brother Sh Devender Singh Rana is a deep personal loss, which is not only irreparable but painful and the void created will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. I sincerely thank all those standing by me and the family in these testing times”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday greeted the people of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana and Chhattisgarh on their states’ formation day.

In posts on X, PM Modi highlighted various features of these states as he extended his wishes to the people living there.

‘Kannada Rajyotsava’ is a very special occasion, recognising the exemplary culture and traditions of Karnataka, he said. “This state is blessed with outstanding people, who are powering growth and innovation across sectors. May the people of Karnataka always be blessed with happiness and success,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi also greeted the people of Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep on their Foundation Day.

PM Modi noted that Madhya Pradesh is blessed with bountiful natural resources and cultural heritage and described Chhattisgarh as a state known for its impressive folk traditions and tribal culture, wishing the State continued development.

“Kerala is known for its mesmerising landscapes, vibrant traditions and hardworking people. People from Kerala have made their mark all over the world, across different fields. May the people of the state keep progressing in the times to come,” PM Modi said in another post on X.

“Haryana is known for its rich and historic heritage and has always made important contributions to the country’s development,” the Prime Minister added.

The former Congress chief said these vibrant cultures, diverse languages, rich histories, and enduring traditions are the very heart of India’s strength and “give our nation its resilience”.

“Let us celebrate and safeguard this unity, recognizing that each state’s unique contribution enriches and strengthens the bonds that hold us together,” he said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of renowned economist Dr. Bibek Debroy on Friday. Dr. Debroy was chairman of the prime minister’s economic advisory council.

He took his last breath at Delhi AIIMS on Friday. The 69-year-old veteran economist was suffering from intestinal obstruction, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

In a post on X, PM Modi said Dr. Debroy was a towering scholar, well-versed in diverse domains like economics, history, culture, politics, spirituality and more. “Through his works, he left an indelible mark on India’s intellectual landscape,” he added.

“Beyond his contributions to public policy, he enjoyed working on our ancient texts, making them accessible to the youth,” the prime minister said.

“I have known Dr. Debroy for many years. I will fondly remember his insights and passion for academic discourse. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti,” said PM Modi.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also condoled the demise of Dr. Debroy.

In a post on X, she wrote, “It is with profound grief that I condole the demise of Shri. @bibekdebroy. As Chairman of PM Economic Advisory Council, he profusely participated in policy making. His interests, inter alia, were—ancient texts, Vedic and classical Sanskrit, Devi, Railways. He was prolific in translating Sanskrit to English- our epics and puranas. His book Sarama and Her Children showed his uncanny knack in extracting nuggets from our ancient texts. Bibek, you had so much more to do and to complete— for all our sake! Farewell! Om Shanti.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Dr. Debroy a brilliant son of Bengal and a scholar of repute. She said he will be remembered by all.

“Saddened by the news of the sudden demise of Bibek Debroy, noted economist and Chairman of PM’s Economic Advisory Council. A brilliant son of Bengal and a scholar of repute, he will be remembered by us. Condolences to the bereaved family and friends,” she posted on X.

Dr. Debroy was born on January 25, 1955, in Shillong, Meghalaya, into a Bengali Hindu family. He completed his early education at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya in Narendrapur and pursued higher studies at Presidency College in Kolkata and the Delhi School of Economics. He later attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where his focus was on integrating information into economic frameworks.

Throughout his career, Dr. Debroy held several prestigious positions, including serving as a member of NITI Aayog. He was part of this important government think tank from its inception in January 2015 until June 2019. Dr. Debroy was a Padma Shri awardee who previously served as the chancellor of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics in Pune.