New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Friday following the death of BJP leader and Nagrota MLA Devender Singh Rana, who passed away in a private hospital in Haryana’s Faridabad on Thursday. In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi described Rana’s untimely demise as shocking, stating, “Devender Singh Rana Ji was a veteran leader who worked diligently towards Jammu and Kashmir’s progress.”
The Prime Minister acknowledged the 59-year-old’s role in strengthening the BJP in J&K, noting, “He had just won the assembly polls and had 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.”
‘Rana’s demise an irreparable loss for the BJP family’
Union home minister Amit Shah also conveyed his condolences in a post on X, expressing deep sadness over Rana’s passing. He wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the untimely demise of senior Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader and MLA from Nagrota Assembly, Devender Singh Rana Ji. Devender Ji was always dedicated to the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir and the interests of the people, making an invaluable contribution to the progress of the region. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP family. I express my condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.”
Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, and their three children: daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh. Following the announcement of his passing, hundreds of people, including political leaders, gathered at his residence in the Gandhinagar area of Jammu.
Once a trusted aide of Omar Abdullah
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his shock and sorrow over Rana’s unexpected death, stating, “In his passing, we have lost a patriotic and widely respected leader dedicated to the well-being of the people of J&K. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.”
The Jammu and Kashmir BJP remarked that Rana’s untimely passing represents a significant loss for both the party and the people of J&K, saying, “His contributions and dedication to society will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace, and may God give strength to his family to cope with this irreparable loss.”
Previously, Rana was a trusted aide to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and served as his political advisor during Abdullah’s earlier tenure as chief minister. He held considerable influence among Muslims, particularly within the Gujjar community in Jammu. Born in 1965 into a Dogra family in Jammu’s Doda district, he was the son of former bureaucrat Rajinder Singh Rana and the brother of Union minister Jitendra Singh.
