PM, other political and business leaders pay tributes to ITC's Deveshwar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday condoled the death of business tycoon and ITC Group chairman Y C Deveshwar, saying he made a strong contribution to the Indian industry.

Deveshwar, 72, who passed away at a private hospital in Gurugram near here this morning after a brief illness.

"Shri Y C Deveshwar made a strong contribution to Indian industry. His efforts helped ITC become a professionally-run Indian company with a global footprint. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the ITC group in this hour of grief," the prime minister said in a tweet.

Condolence messages also poured in from other political and business leaders.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted: "Saddened by the death of Yogi C Deveshwar, Chairman ITC. Yogi excelled as a corporate professional and an entrepreneur and took his company to great heights. May God render peace to the departed soul & give to his family strength to bear this loss."
Chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, Sanjeev Goenka, said, "Yogi was a tall leader and a visionary. I have lost a friend. I am deeply saddened."
Ambuja Neotia Group Chairman Harsh Neotia said Deveshwar was an extraordinary professional, who steered the company in "troubled times and diversified it from tobacco to FMCG and hospitality. He has been a family friend for two generations."
Srei Infrastructure Finance CMD Hemant Kanoria said, "He built a great company like ITC and diversified it into so many areas, all with sustainable long-term business and social models."
Chairman of RPG Enterprises Harsh Goenka said: "A titan, a friend, #YogiDeveshwar passes away making the Indian corporate world poorer"