Pakistan’s noted humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi of Edhi Foundation has refused to accept Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s donation of Rs 1 crore to his charity for returning 15-year old deaf and mute girl Geeta to the country.
Faisal Edhi said that it is against Edhi Foundation’s policy to accept donations from governments. He also said that he will present the organization’s stand in front of the media soon.
Earlier, Indian PM Modi had thanked Edhi Foundation for their efforts in returning Geeta to the country and had announced contribution of Rs. 1 crore to their foundation.
“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 and compassion,” Modi tweeted on Monday.
“What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs 10 million for their foundation,” said another tweet from PM Modi.
The Edhi Foundation is a non-profit social welfare NGO in Pakistan, founded by Abdul Sattar Edhi in 1951. He is popularly known as Pakistan’s “Father Teresa”.
Former Indian Minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had likened Bilqees Edhi to the real-life “Bajrangi Bhaijaan’.
“Abdul Sattar Edhi has thanked PM Modi and politely declined to accept his announced financial help,” Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi was quoted as saying by ‘Dawn’ news.