Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Geeta: Welcome Back Home

New Delhi: "Welcome back home, Geeta," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he met today the differently-abled girl, who had accidentally crossed over to Pakistan years ago, and announced a donation of Rs one crore for the Pakistani foundation Edhi which took care of her.

Mr Modi hailed Karachi-based Edhi founder Bilqis Bano Edhi, who turned out to be Gujarat-born, for taking care of Ms Geeta with love and affection for so many years and invited her to visit her birth place in Bantwa in Junagadh along with her family.

Ms Geeta warmly embraced the Prime Minister when she met him today evening, hours after returning from Pakistan.

"It is truly wonderful to have you back home. Was truly a delight to spend time with you today," Mr Modi tweeted later.

He assured her that every effort would be made to trace her family and that she will be looked after well. "All of India will take care of you," Mr Modi told her during meeting.

Complimenting Bilqis Bano Edhi for taking care of Ms Geeta with love and affection for so many years, the Prime Minister announced that India would give the Edhi Foundation Rs one crore as a token of appreciation, not just for taking care of Ms Geeta, but also for the wonderful work that the Foundation has been doing, a PMO statement said.

"I don't think any amount of words are enough to thank the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. They are apostles of kindness & compassion," Mr Modi said in a tweet.
 "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," he added.

During the interaction, Gujarat-born Modi learnt that Ms Bilqis Bano was born in Bantwa in Junagadh in Gujarat. He invited her to visit Junagadh along with her family.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was present on the occasion, also complimented Ms Bilqis Bano and the Edhi Foundation for the love and affection that they have showered on Ms Geeta.