Geeta, who became a household name and symbol of cooperation between India and Pakistan, landed in Delhi on October 26 after a long wait. Both nations were hopeful that she will be reunited with her family. But in a late afternoon press conference held on the same day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced that Geeta had failed to recognise the Mahatos as her family, which came as a shock to many.
It also gave rise to the question – why was the DNA test not conducted before Geeta was brought to India?
The Quint contacted the Edhi Foundation in Pakistan to find out their side of the story. Anwar Kazmi, the Secretary of the foundation said that from the very beginning, he was doubtful if the Mahatos (from Bihar) were Geeta’s parents. He further added that the description Janardhan Mahato gave didn’t match that of Geeta.
Hume andaza tha ki jis family ko usne recognise kiya tha, wo actually uski family nahi bhi ho sakti hai. Bihar waale family ka claim tha ki uski beti ki shaadi ho chuki thi aur uska ek bacha bhi tha. Lekin ye kaise mumkin hai kyuki Geeta hume jab milli tab wo bohot choti thi. (Even though Geeta had recognised the Mahatos as her family, we were still doubtful if they were indeed her parents. The family claimed that their daughter was married and also had a child. But when we found Geeta, she was still very young.)
Anwar Kazmi, Secretary, Edhi Foundation in Pakistan
Kazmi adds that he didn’t try to stop Geeta despite this doubt because she was desperate to go back to India. Edhi Foundation received emails and photographs from at least 13 to 14 families claiming that Geeta was their daughter. Geeta rejected all the other families but immediately recognised the Mahatos when she saw their photographs.
Before sending Geeta back to India, the members of the Edhi Foundation contacted the Indian High Commission’s office in Islamabad, requesting them to conduct a DNA test while Geeta was still in Pakistan.
Humne kaha tha Indian High Commission jo Islamabad me hai, ki hum aapko Geeta ka blood dete hai, woh aap India bhej dijiye. Lekin unhone kaha ki ab jo yeh pata chal gaya hai ki woh Indian hai toh hum isko wapas bhej rahe hai, wahi test bhi ho jayega. (We asked the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to collect Geeta’s blood samples and send it to India for a DNA test while she was still in Pakistan. But the officials in the Commission said that since it has been established that Geeta is an Indian citizen, it would be better to send her back to India. The DNA test can be done there.)
Anwar Kazmi
Sources in the MEA, though, didn’t have a clear answer to this question. The same sources said that India preferred to bring Geeta back because conducting the DNA test while she was in Pakistan could have been difficult.
According to Sudhir Gupta, Professor and Head of the Department – Forensic Medicine at AIIMS, medically the test would have been possible but perhaps due to some procedural limitations, the DNA test was done in India.
Medically, Geeta’s DNA test was possible while she was in Pakistan. Geeta’s blood sample was taken before a witness, which could have been a problem in Pakistan.
Sudhir Gupta, Professor & Head of the Dept of Forensic Medicine, AIIMS
A forensic expert at AIIMS has already taken Geeta’s DNA sample for the test. The hospital will take seven to ten days to prepare the result.
Certainly, the situation will get more complex if Geeta’s DNA doesn’t match with that of the Mahato family.
Geeta has meanwhile been sent to Indore to an institution for hearing-impaired people. She will stay there till she finds her biological parents.
On Monday, Prime Minister Modi had tweeted his gratitude to the Edhi Foundation.
The foundation, while profusely thanking Modi for his gesture, politely declined the money. The foundation said that as per their mandate, they don’t accept money as donation from the government, but only from the public.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)