Maharashtra Cabinet proposes Bharat Ratna for Ratan Tata

The Maharashtra Cabinet paid rich tributes to Ratan Tata and passed a proposal, urging the Centre to award Bharat Ratna to the 86-year-old industry titan, who died yesterday.

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday passed a proposal, urging the central government to award Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, to veteran industrialist Ratan Tata, who died in Mumbai at the age of 86 on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Cabinet ministers paid rich tributes and condolences to Ratan Tata. The Cabinet, in a condolence post for Ratan Tata, said the country "lost a great social worker, visionary and patriotic leader".

"Entrepreneurship is also an effective way of building society. The country can be taken forward only by the establishment of new industries, but for that one needs true patriotism in the heart and equally sincere concern for our society. We have lost a great social worker, visionary and patriotic leader," the post read.

"Not only in the industrial sector of India, but also in the work of social development, Ratan Tata's contribution was phenomenal. He was the son of Maharashtra. India was proud of him," it said.

In 2008, Ratan Tata received Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour in India.

Ratan Tata, a legend of the Indian industry and Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, died late Wednesday night. He had been undergoing treatment for prolonged illness at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital for the last few days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of prominent politicians, filmstars, sportspersons, businessmen and industrialists, paid tributes to the industry titan and praised his simplicity and humility.

Ratan Tata will be given a funeral, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, declaring a day of mourning in the state to pay tribute to the legend.

The 86-year-old's body has been kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai's Nariman Point from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday for people to pay their respects. At 3.30 pm, his body will be taken to the Worli crematorium for last rites as per Parsi rituals.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be present at the funeral and is representing the central government.