Geeta's long wait to hoist tricolour ends this Republic Day

Geeta, the speech and hearing impaired girl who returned to India from Pakistan, hoisted a tricolour at an event in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday on the occasion of Republic Day.

She hoisted a 21 x 14 feet national flag in the presence of hundreds of people at Regal crossing here. She also danced to the tunes of patriotic songs. The event was organised by Apna Samooh.

"I am very happy to hoist the tricolour in the land of Mahatma Gandhi. I was waiting for this moment since the time I was in Pakistan. Every Indian should honour the national flag," she said in sign language.

Geeta, who is staying at an institution here for the hearing impaired, said she was very happy to return to India and 'wants good Indo-Pak relations'.

"I didn't get an opportunity to study during childhood... now I am concentrating on completing my studies," she said.

Last year, on October 26, nearly 15 years after she accidentally crossed over to Pakistan, Geeta, whose story has touched people on both sides of the border, returned to India.

Geeta, now 23, was reportedly just 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore railway station.

She was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquis Edhi and lived with her in Karachi.

Her 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.