New Delhi: Geeta, the mute and deaf girl, on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who announced Rs one crore to Pakistan's Edhi foundation, which had taken care of her during her over a decade-long stay in that country.
"Welcome back home, Geeta. It is truly wonderful to have you back home. Was truly a delight to spend time with you today... All of India will take care of you," Modi said and assured that every effort would be made to trace her family as she embraced him warmly.
The Prime Minister also thanked the Edhi family, whom he described as "apostles of kindness and compassion" for taking care of Geeta, a PMO release said.
Complimenting Bilqis Bano Edhi, founder of the foundation, he said, "I don't think any amount of words are enough to thank the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta with love and affection for so many years."
"What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs 1 crore to their foundation," Modi said. Upon learning that Bilqis was born in Junagadh's Bantwa area in Gujarat, the Prime Minister invited her to visit Junagadh along with her family.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was present on the occasion, also complimented Bilqis and the Edhi Foundation for the love and affection that they have showered on Geeta.
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Geeta's story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India.
Mahato claimed Geeta is his first child and her name was Heera who was lost in a fair in 2004. Though Mahato family claimed she was married and has a child, Geeta vehemently denied it.
"We will wait for the result of the DNA test. Geeta has refused to go with the Mahatos and said they are not her parents, she will stay at a home in Indore," Swaraj said, adding Geeta's blood sample has been taken for the test.
Heaping praise on Bilkis Banu of Edhi foundation, Swaraj said all the members of the organisation who accompanied Geeta have been accorded state guest status. The Edhi delegation is likely to visit Taj Mahal, Ajmer Sharif dargah as well as various historical places in Delhi.
Swaraj particularly appreciated Bilkis for giving religious freedom to Geeta and allow her to perform all rituals while in Pakistan. "She had been a vegetarian all these years."
Giving a detail account of her stay in Edhi Foundation, Bilkis on her part said, "I am extremely happy. Today is like Eid for me. I am happy for Geeta." She said Geeta initially was restless and wanted to flee from Pakistan.
Bilkis said Geeta watched "Bajrangi Bhaijan" several times.
"She had said the movie has been made taking my story but I have not been taken back," said Bilkis quoting Geeta. In her meeting with Bilkis, Swaraj told her that she will be invited to Geeta's wedding. Swaraj said government's priority is to bring back the Indians who are languishing in Pakistani jails for years and have developed mental illness.
Asked Pakistan High Commission's comment today that it hoped India would release 459 Pakistani prisoners with same "love and affection" that Pakistan showed for Geeta, Swaraj refused to comment.
She, however, said Geeta's return has reflected importance of people-to-people contact in relationship between the two countries.
Swaraj said there cases somewhat similar to Geeta's and government will extend help to those families to bring back their relatives. Before boarding the PIA flight in Karachi, a beaming Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her. Faisal Edhi of the Edhi foundation told reporters in
Karachi that they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her. "She is not really separating from us," he said.
