Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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

    Chandigarh India's 'Happiest City', Delhi 'Happiest Metro'

    Chandigarh India's 'Happiest City', Delhi 'Happiest Metro'
    Chandigarh is India's 'Happiest City' while Delhi is the country's 'Happiest Metro', a study commissioned by multinational electronics company LG has found.

    Chandigarh India's 'Happiest City', Delhi 'Happiest Metro'

    India Says Pakistan 'Rattled' By Myanmar Strike, Attacks Feared In Northeast

    India Says Pakistan 'Rattled' By Myanmar Strike, Attacks Feared In Northeast
    India on Thursday said the its surgical attack on militants in Myanmar has left Pakistan "rattled", while intelligence inputs warned that retaliatory attacks were possible in the northeast.

    India Says Pakistan 'Rattled' By Myanmar Strike, Attacks Feared In Northeast

    Chant 'Allah' If Not 'Om': Minister Tells Muslim Leaders

    Chant 'Allah' If Not 'Om': Minister Tells Muslim Leaders
    Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik on Thursday appealed to the Muslim community to participate in the International Yoga Day in a big way and said people who do not want to chant 'Om' can say 'Allah'.

    Chant 'Allah' If Not 'Om': Minister Tells Muslim Leaders

    Debt-Ridden Punjab Farmer, Who Met Rahul Gandhi, Commits Suicide

    Debt-Ridden Punjab Farmer, Who Met Rahul Gandhi, Commits Suicide
    Surjit Singh, 60, of Dadumajra village near Chunni Kalan in Fategarh Sahib had a debt of Rs.13.50 lakh.

    Debt-Ridden Punjab Farmer, Who Met Rahul Gandhi, Commits Suicide

    'India's Surgical Strike On Myanmar Border Message To Pakistani Terrorists'

    'India's Surgical Strike On Myanmar Border Message To Pakistani Terrorists'
    Questions were raised if India would pursue a similar policy along its Western border with Pakistan, inviting a sharp reaction from the other side.

    'India's Surgical Strike On Myanmar Border Message To Pakistani Terrorists'

    Aspiring Country Singer Derek Kehler From Canada Dies In Australia

    Aspiring Country Singer Derek Kehler From Canada Dies In Australia
    The Daily Telegraph in Sydney says Derek Kehler died on Monday along with his companion, Helena Curic of Australia, while they were camping in a makeshift cabin in the Blue Mountains northwest of Sydney.

    Aspiring Country Singer Derek Kehler From Canada Dies In Australia