Veteran RSS leader Mengi passes away in Jammu

Veteran Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader and renowned social worker Dr Om Prakash Mengi has passed away here after a prolonged illness. He was 92.

Mengi took his last breath yesterday, family sources said.
    
A large number of people from all walks of life joined his funeral procession and bade him an emotional adieu.
    
Mengi is survived by one son, Dr Gautam Mengi and two daughters Dr Vinod Gandotra and Urmila Puri.
    
Senior RSS leaders including its chief Mohan Bhagwat, Bhaya Ji Joshi and Indresh Kumar expressed their profound grief and shock over the demise of Mengi.
    
Born at Jammu in 1917, Mengi joined RSS during his student life in Lahore in late '40s and he remained associated with it till his last breath.
    
After passing general physician and surgeon degree course at Medical College Amritsar, he joined as medical officer in J&K state. But he resigned the service after his links with RSS were objected to by the government.
    
A staunch social activist, Mengi served RSS as 'Karyawah' of Jammu and Kashmir state. The veteran leader also held the distinction of acting as Sangchalak of J&K state and Himachal Pradesh for 40 long years of his life and working with RSS chiefs right from Guru Ji to Mohan Bhagwat.
    
A close associate of founder of praja parishad movement, Pt Prem Nath Dogra, Mengi also commanded a lot of respect from civil society of Jammu. He was put behind the bars during gau raksha agitation and the emergency.