Toyota Kirloskar Motor vice chairperson Vikram Kirloskar dies at 64
Bengaluru (PTI): Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice Chairperson Vikram S Kirloskar has died due to a heart attack, the automaker said on Wednesday.
He was 64.
Kirloskar suffered a cardiac arrest on Tuesday morning and was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where he passed away, the company said.
"We are extremely saddened to inform the untimely demise of Mr. Vikram S. Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor on 29th November 2022. At this time of grief, we request everyone to pray that his soul rests in peace," the company said in a statement.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Last respect can be paid at Hebbal Crematorium, Bengaluru, on 30th November 2022 at 1pm," it said.
Kirloskar, the chairman and managing director of Kirloskar Systems Limited and Vice Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor was the president at Confederation of Indian Industry from 2019 to 2020.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), which sells a range of vehicles, is a joint venture between the Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Company and the Kirloskar Group.
Condolences began pouring in from various quarters over the death of the industrialist.
In his condolence message, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Heartfelt condolences on the sad & untimely demise of one of the stalwarts of India's automotive industry, Vice Chairperson of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Shri Vikram Kirloskar. May his soul rest in peace. May God grant the family & friends the strength to bear this loss. Om Shanti," he said.
State Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries Murugesh Nirani also expressed grief over Kirloskar's demise.
"I'm at a thorough loss of words to hear about the sad demise of my good friend & industry leader, Shri Vikram Kirloskar Avaru, Vice Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motors. You will be missed! May his soul rest in peace & may God grant his family the strength to get through this," he tweeted.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the Executive Chairperson of Bengaluru-headquartered biopharmaceuticals company Biocon, said, "Devastated with Vikram's shocking demise. He was such a dear friend who I will hugely miss. I share the pain and unconsolable grief of Gitanjali Manasi in the family."
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India-China affirm disengagement progress, discuss bilateral relations
New Delhi: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first boundary talks between the Special Representatives (SR) since 2019. Both sides “positively affirmed” the progress of their disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and emphasized learning from the four-year military standoff to maintain peace and stability at the border.
The talks also focused on restoring bilateral ties disrupted by tensions at the LAC. Discussions included reopening cross-border exchanges such as the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, and border trade. A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted a “six-point consensus” reached during the dialogue, aimed at preserving border peace and fostering improved relations. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not mention the six-point framework, it reiterated a shared commitment to resolving boundary issues based on earlier political guidelines.
The SR meeting, resumed after a five-year hiatus, comes on the heels of the October 2024 disengagement agreement in eastern Ladakh. This agreement, covering areas like Depsang and Demchok, allowed for patrolling and grazing, paving the way for further discussions on troop de-escalation and de-induction along the border.
The talks did not touch on the resumption of direct flights or journalist exchanges, previously discussed during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's meeting with Wang Yi in Rio de Janeiro. However, Doval’s meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng underscored the need to restore exchanges in economic, cultural, and trade sectors.
During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the importance of peace at the LAC for broader bilateral relations. Doval extended an invitation to Wang Yi to visit New Delhi for the next round of SR talks, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening strategic communication with China.
