People from all walks of life today paid respects to industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata at the NCPA in Mumbai. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and others have expressed their condolences on the demise of the renowned businessman and philanthropist. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is going to attend the funeral in the evening. Akashvani Mumbai correspondent reports that at the National Centre for Performing Arts, thousands of admirers paid their respects to Ratan Tata.

Dignitaries including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of Industries Uday Samant, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, RBI Governor Shaktikant Das, and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla have visited to honor him. Security measures have been heightened in the area, where Mr. Tata’s remains will be on display until 4:30 PM. His final rites are scheduled to take place at the Worli crematorium this evening. Mr. Tata, who passed away yesterday at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital, was instrumental in transforming the Tata Group into a globally recognised conglomerate.

The Maharashtra government has declared today a day of mourning, cancelling all government events. During a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tabled a motion of condolence and proposed that the central government confer the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, on Mr. Tata for his significant contributions to industry, philanthropy, and social welfare.