Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today expressed grief over the demise of industrialist O P Munjal and said the Chairman Emeritus of Hero Cycles helped Ludhiana emerge on the industrial map of the world.
In a separate condolence message, Congress' Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh said Munjal's death is a great loss to the industry, particularly the bicycle industry, "which he groomed and nourished all his life".
Munjal, also one of the founders of the Hero Group, passed away in Ludhiana after brief illness.
Lauding the role played by Munjal in philanthropic causes such as opening of schools and colleges, the five-time Chief Minister said the state has lost one of its illustrious son, who would be remembered for his hard work and dedication.
"It is a huge personal loss for me but I am sure the life of this great entrepreneur of Punjab will ever act as a source of inspiration for the coming generations to work zealously for attaining any goal," 87-year-old Badal said in his condolence message.
Describing Munjal as doyen of bicycle industry in India, Amarinder said, "Mr Munjal was a multifaceted personality, who besides being one of the leading industrialists in the country, had great literary tastes."
"Mr Munjal was a great human being who valued ethics and great traditions in business," he added.
Paying tributes to Munjal, the Amritsar MP said, "it was under the dynamic leadership of Mr Munjal that Hero Cycles became the largest manufacturers of bicycles in the world entering the Guinness book of world records.
