Modi Announces Rs 1 cr for Edhi Foundation.
By Sreejith Vallikunnu
Geeta, the 23-year speech and hearing-impaired girl, who accidentally crossed over to Pakistan as a child, returned to India on Monday, after 13 years. Indian and Pakistan officials received her at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after she arrived on a Pakistan international flight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Geeta and announced Rs 1 crore to Edhi Foundation for taking care of her for the last 13 years. After meeting her, he tweeted, “Welcome Geeta. It is truly wonderful to have you back home. Was truly a delight to spend time with you today.â€
He thanked the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. Modi also expressed his gratitude to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his efforts that ensured Geeta’s safe return to India.
Meanwhile, Geeta failed to recognize the family from Bihar, who had claimed that she was their lost daughter. She met the couple who were believed to be her parents but could not recognize them.
“We will get DNA tests of whoever claims that she is their daughter. We have taken blood samples,†said foreign minister Sushma Swaraj who also met Geeta.
“No matter if we find Geeta’s parents or not, she is a daughter of India and we will take care of her,†she added.
Geeta’s story came to limelight after the release of Salman Khan starer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India. After watching the movie, Geeta yearned to come back home. Media exposed her story and then the Indian government vowed to bring her back.
Similar to the movie Geeta was reportedly found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore railway station 15 years ago. She was adopted by the Edhi Foundation in Karachi, which is run by Bilquis Edhi.