Pakistani humanitarian Edhi declines Modi’s Rs 1 crore donation
Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi on Tuesday declined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s offer to donate Rs 1 crore to his foundation.
Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi on Tuesday declined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s offer to donate Rs 1 crore to his foundation, with a spokesperson saying the humanitarian did not accept aid from any governments or institutions.
“It is one of Abdul Sattar Edhi’s fundamental principles that he doesn’t accept donations from any government or even global organisations. He has thanked Modi saab and politely declined his donation,” Edhi Foundation spokesperson Anwar Kazmi told Hindustan Times from Karachi on phone.
Modi had announced the donation on Monday after meeting Geeta, the speech and hearing impaired Indian woman who was cared for by the Edhi Foundation for several years after she strayed across the border some 15 years ago. Geeta made an emotional return to India on Monday, accompanied by Edhi’s wife Bilquis Edhi.
“What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs1 crore to their foundation,” Modi had tweeted.
Kazmi said Edhi, who is sometimes referred to as the Mother Teresa of Karachi, had turned down donations from Pakistani leaders such as Zia-ul-Haq and members of the Bhutto family. He had also spurned donations from global bodies such as the World Bank, Kazmi said.
“Edhi sab believes in motivating the ordinary people to help fund his activities, even if they donate sums as little as Rs 10. He receives donations from countless ordinary people inside and outside Pakistan. Recently, an investor offered him Rs 5 crore but he returned the amount,” Kazmi said.