NEW DELHI - India Inc Thursday mourned the tragic and untimely death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy, calling him an inspiring, progressive and visionary leader, who had earned wide praise for leading the state’s industrial development.

“Fondly called YSR by the industry and political circles, the nation has lost a visionary, inspiring and motivating leader,” said the Confederation of Indian Industry.

“During his tenure as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, the state has made remarkable achievements in industrial development and the recent World Bank Report acknowledged Andhra Pradesh as one of the Best States for doing business,” said CII president Venu Srinivasan.

“Indian Inc will greatly miss him,” added the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry, another apex industry lobby, reacting to the death of the 60-year-old Reddy.

“The industrial development of Andhra has taken place due to his investment friendly policies which resulted in a lot of domestic and overseas investments in all parts the state.”

In his tribute to the chief minister, Assocham president Sajjan Jindal described him as “a workaholic who devoted all his time and energies for the uplift of poor”.

Maintaining that Reddy had brought Andhra Pradesh among India’s industrially developed states, Jindal said said, “His sad and untimely demise is a great loss to the nation as a whole.”

Harshpati Singhania, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), described Reddy, as a “visionary and charismatic” leader who steered the state into one of the premier industrial hubs of the country.

“Mr. Reddy’s untimely and tragic death was big blow to the state and the Congress Party as under his dynamic leadership the state was making steady progress on all fronts,” Singhania said.