Israel PM mourns passing of RatanTata; French President and Bill Gates too

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condoled the death of industrialist Ratan Tata and said he was a champion of friendship between Israel and India. Ratan Tata passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday last at the age of 86.

In a social media post addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Netanyahu highlighted Ratan Tata's contributions to fostering Israel-India ties.

In the statement, Netanyahu said, "To my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

I and many in Israel mourn the loss of Ratan Naval Tata, a proud son of India and a champion of the friendship between our two countries. Please convey my condolences to Ratan's family."

Prime minister Modi praised Ratan Tata in a post mourning his demise, calling Tata "a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being."

The final rites of the eminent industrialist were conducted with full state honours in Worli crematorium. On Thursday, Singapore's prime minister Lawrence Wong paid tribute to Ratan Tata, calling him a true friend of the country. French president Emmanuel Macron also praised Ratan Tata's contributions to innovation and knowledge, adding that "France has lost a dear friend from India.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates also lauded Ratan Tata's achievements and his importance for India and the world. He said, "Ratan Tata was a visionary leader whose dedication to improving lives left an indelible mark on India-and the world.