Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
India

President Calls Geeta 'Symbol Of India-Pakistan Unity'

Darpan News Desk IANS, 27 Oct, 2015 11:27 AM
    A day after returning to India from Pakistan where she was stranded for years, speech and hearing impaired Geeta met President Pranab Mukherjee -- who called her "a symbol of India-Pakistan unity" -- and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and took a ride on Delhi Metro.
     
    "You are the daughter of both our countries, a symbol of India-Pakistan unity. God has listened to your prayers," Mukherjee told the 23-year-old when she called on him at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
     
    A Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said Mukherjee blessed Geeta, a Hindu who strayed into Pakistan when she was around 11 years old in 2003. Pakistan Rangers promptly handed her over to the Edhi Foundation that took care of her since then.
     
    Unable to explain who she was and from where she came, Geeta began living in Pakistan, and grew from a teenager to a young adult.
     
    The president also thanked Bilquis Bano Edhi and the Edhi Foundation for their good work in Pakistan.
     
    Before meeting the president, Geeta met Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who asked her about her life in Pakistan and how she strayed into that country.
     
    At both meetings, Geeta was accompanied by members of Edhi Foundation.
     
     
    Geeta, who interacted with everyone with the help of a facilitator, later took a ride on Delhi Metro, travelling from the Civil Lines station in the city's north to Patel Chowk station in the heart of the capital.
     
    At the Patel Chowk station, she was taken around the Delhi Metro museum.
     
    On Monday, Geeta flew into New Delhi on Pakistan International Airlines to begin a new life on her home soil.
     
    Among the first people she called on were External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who had taken a keen interest on her return, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
     
    Modi thanked Bilquis Edhi, wife of Karachi-based Edhi Foundation founder Abdul Sattar Edhi, for taking care of Geeta in Pakistan. He also announced a Rs.1 crore rupee donation for the foundation.
     
    On Tuesday, the NGO declined to accept the money.
     
    "Edhi has thanked Modi and politely declined to accept his announced financial help," the Dawn quoted Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi as saying.
     
     
    "What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs.1 crore for their foundation," Modi had tweeted on Monday.
     
    Edhi Foundation is a social welfare organisation known for its extensive social work.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Now Bulk Of Maggi Noodles Worth Rs.320 Crore Is Fuel For Cement Factories

    Now Bulk Of Maggi Noodles Worth Rs.320 Crore Is Fuel For Cement Factories
    Valuing its Maggi noodles stocks at around Rs.320 crore, Nestle India on Monday said a good part of it was being incinerated at five cement factories across the country into fuel.

    Now Bulk Of Maggi Noodles Worth Rs.320 Crore Is Fuel For Cement Factories

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension
    Scores of ex-servicemen on Monday launched an indefinite relay hunger strike here over the delay in implementing the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for them and threatened to intensify their agitation.

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension
    Scores of ex-servicemen on Monday launched an indefinite relay hunger strike here over the delay in implementing the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for them and threatened to intensify their agitation.

    Indian Ex-servicemen Launch Hunger Strike For One Rank, One Pension

    'Sushma Offered To Quit But Rss Sought She Continued'

    The sources said the news channel that on Sunday read out e-mails of a British MP concerning travel documents for Modi, had sent an e-mail to Sushma Swaraj almost a week before, seeking her response on the issue.

    'Sushma Offered To Quit But Rss Sought She Continued'

    Paddy Sowing Begins In Punjab, Haryana

    Paddy Sowing Begins In Punjab, Haryana
    Paddy transplantation has started in food grain states Punjab and Haryana, agriculture department officials in both states said on Monday.

    Paddy Sowing Begins In Punjab, Haryana

    Congress Demands Sushma's Sacking Over Lalit Modi Link

    Congress Demands Sushma's Sacking Over Lalit Modi Link
    "The Modi government only talks about anti-corruption," Rahul Gandhi said, adding that Lalit Modi was a symbol of black money.

    Congress Demands Sushma's Sacking Over Lalit Modi Link