Indian girl Geeta, who accidentally crossed over to Pakistan a decade ago, embraces Prime Minister Narendra Modi after her return to India
News East West
NEW DELHI: Geeta, the disabled Indian girl who accidentally crossed over into Pakistan more than a decade ago, embraced Prime Minister Narendra Modi like her father after her return to India on Monday – October 26.
There were emotional scenes at the Prime Minister’s Office as Geeta gave a tight hug to the Prime Minister who blessed her like his own little daughter.
Geeta, who is deaf and cannot speak, was about 7 or 8 years old when she went missing from a Baisakhi fair in Kartarpur near Jalandhar and crossed into Pakistan on the Samjhauta Express.
She was found sitting alone at the Lahore railway station by Pakistani security personnel. Later, she was handed over the Edhi Foundation in Karachi who looked after her for the past 10 years.
On her arrival in India, Geeta went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
“Welcome back home, Geeta,’’ Modi said as she embraced him.
Since Geeta’s family hasn’t been traced yet, the Prime Minister said, “All of India will take care of you.’’
The Prime Minister thanked the Edhi Foundation in Karachi for taking care of Geeta and announced Rs 1 crore to the Foundation as a token of appreciation.
Modi also invited Ms. Bilqis Bano Edhi, founder of the Edhi Foundation, to visit Bantwa in Junagadh Gujarat, along with her family.
Later in a tweet, Modi said, “Don’t think any amount of words are enough to thank Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. They are apostles of kindness and compassion.’’
Later in a tweet, Modi said, “Don’t think any amount of words are enough to thank Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. They are apostles of kindness and compassion.’’External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was present when Geeta met the Prime Minister, said, “I thank the government of Pakistan and the NGO who took care of Geeta in Pakistan all these years… I thank them from the bottom of my heart.’’
The process to bring Geeta back began in August when Sushma asked the Indian high commissioner in Pakistan to meet Geeta as the government tried to locate her family in India. The process picked up further after Geeta identified her father, step-mother and others from a family picture shown to her.
Janardhan Mahato from Bihar, who claims Geeta is his daughter, was reportedly working as a mason in Punjab when she went missing. Mahato says he is ready for DNA tests to prove that she is his daughter.
The government says Geeta will be handed over to the family only if DNA tests prove it. Otherwise, the government will take care of her.
A report from Karachi said the Edhi Foundation thanked Modi for his donation of Rs 1 crore, but politely declined it.
A foundation spokesman said they don’t accept donations from governments or global organisations.
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