Veteran BJP leader Datta Megh dies at 89; Gadkari says huge loss in Vidarbha

NAGPUR: Veteran BJP leader Datta Megh passed away on Sunday evening at the age of 89, his close aide and former Nagpur deputy mayor Raghunath Malika said.Meghe is the father of Hingna MLA Sameer Meghe and former MLC Sagar Meghe.Datta Meghe is a four-term MP from Nagpur, Ramtek and Wardha and was also a member of the Lok Sabha from 2002 to 2008. He was a member of the Sharad Pawar-led (non-divisive) NCP when it was formed in 1999 and served as a state minister.He joined the BJP in 2014. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters and grandchildren.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Megai was like an elder brother and the news of his death was heartbreaking.He said, “I pay my heartfelt respect to him. With the death of Datab, Vidarbha has suffered a huge loss in the political and social spheres. Such a leader with a big heart, broad mind and purity will not come again. Datab’s contribution to the educational and medical fields of Vidarbha is noteworthy and important.”Gadkari said that in tribal areas from Gadchiroli to Melghat, Megai tried his best to improve the health of tribal brothers through free medical camps, adding that in Savangi Megai, he provided free medical treatment to the poor.“To provide higher education opportunities to the youth of Vidarbha, he founded educational institutions. May God grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to his family and everyone to recover from their grief,” the Union Minister said.