My heart is filled with happiness: Geeta

New Delhi: Geeta, the hearing and speech impaired girl, on Monday returned here to a grand welcome after spending 14 years in Pakistan but could not recognise the family she had earlier identified from photographs even as the government "whole- heartedly" thanked Islamabad for allowing her homecoming.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called it a "happy day" after meeting Geeta as the "innocent daughter came back home". She said the government will do everything possible to reunite her with her family. The Mahato family from Bihar, which claimed Geeta to be their daughter, met her in presence of Swaraj, but she refused to recognise them though she had identified them from photographs when she was in Karachi.

"I am very happy to be in India. My heart is filled with happiness. I am touched the way I am being welcomed. In Pakistan, I used to often feel sad," said Geeta, through a sign language interpretor, at a press conference along with Swaraj.

Dressed in a red and white salwar kameez, Geeta, who had accidentally strayed into Pakistan 14 years back, said her priority is to stand on her feet and that she did not have plans for marriage.

"My heart has always been in India," Geeta was quoted as telling the Minister by MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup. The External Affairs Minister said Geeta's DNA sample is being examined and if it does not match with the samples of the Mahato couple, then government will start afresh the process to find her parents.

"If the DNA samples match, then it will be a complex situation. We will ask Geeta to recollect things and go down the memory lane. We will make her sit again with them (Mahatos) so that she recollects her memory," said Swaraj, adding Geeta did not show any excitement when she saw the Mahato couple.

Swaraj said Geeta will stay in a rehabilitation centre for deaf and dumb people in Indore and that she will be imparted skill development training there.

"I thank the Edhi foundation which took care of her all these years. I on behalf of people of India and government thank Pakistan government for facilitating Geeta's return... It is a happy day for us innocent Geeta came after so many years," said Swaraj.

She, however, refused to answer questions on whether Geeta's homecoming will help improve relations between India and Pakistan. Geeta was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquees Edhi and lived with her in Karachi. Bilquis and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, have accompanied Geeta here. Swaraj hailed Edhi foundation for respecting Geeta's religious faith and bringing idols of various Gods for her.

Geeta's story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India.

Mahato claimed Geeta is his first child and her name was Heera who was lost in a fair in 2004. Though Mahato family claimed she was married and has a child, Geeta vehemently denied it.

"We will wait for the result of the DNA test. Geeta has refused to go with the Mahatos and said they are not her parents, she will stay at a home in Indore," Swaraj said, adding Geeta's blood sample has been taken for the test.

Heaping praise on Bilkis Banu of Edhi foundation, Swaraj said all the members of the organisation who accompanied Geeta have been accorded state guest status. The Edhi delegation is likely to visit Taj Mahal, Ajmer Sharif dargah as well as various historical places in Delhi.

Swaraj particularly appreciated Bilkis for giving religious freedom to Geeta and allow her to perform all rituals while in Pakistan. "She had been a vegetarian all these years."

Giving a detail account of her stay in Edhi Foundation, Bilkis on her part said, "I am extremely happy. Today is like Eid for me. I am happy for Geeta." She said Geeta initially was restless and wanted to flee from Pakistan. Bilkis said Geeta watched "Bajrangi Bhaijan" several times.

"She had said the movie has been made taking my story but I have not been taken back," said Bilkis quoting Geeta. In her meeting with Bilkis, Swaraj told her that she will be invited to Geeta's wedding.

Swaraj said government's priority is to bring back the Indians who are languishing in Pakistani jails for years and have developed mental illness. Asked Pakistan High Commission's comment on Monday that it hoped India would release 459 Pakistani prisoners with same "love and affection" that Pakistan showed for Geeta, Swaraj refused to comment.

She, however, said Geeta's return has reflected importance of people-to-people contact in relationship between the two countries. Swaraj said there cases somewhat similar to Geeta's and government will extend help to those families to bring back their relatives.

Before boarding the PIA flight in Karachi, a beaming Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her. Faisal Edhi of the Edhi foundation told reporters in Karachi that they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her. "She is not really separating from us," he said.