Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pakistani sister' will again tie the rakhi on his wrist this year — a tradition the duo has been reportedly following for three decades. Qamar Mohsin Sheikh, a woman originally from Pakistan who moved to India following her marriage, is set to make a visit to the national capital to personally tie a rakhi on Prime Minister Modi's wrist.
News agency ANI quoted Qamar Mohsin Sheikh as saying, "On this Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm wishes to him and pray for his well-being and longevity every single day. I have a strong belief that my wishes always come to fruition. In the past, I had prayed for his role as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and it happened. Every time I've tied the rakhi, I've silently wished for him to become the Prime Minister, and he always responded positively, assuring me that all my wishes will be granted by the divine. His dedication to the country's betterment is truly admirable."
It's a heartfelt tradition for Sheikh, who handcrafts the rakhi herself each year for PM Modi. She has maintained this ritual during Modi's tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, personally tying the rakhi on his wrist. However, due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, she was unable to continue this tradition in person. Nonetheless, she made sure to send her Rakhi by mail to ensure the gesture continued.
This year, another Pakistani woman has sent a rakhi to PM Modi. Illegal immigrant from Pakistan Seema Haider has reportedly sent rakhis to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Seema crossed the border via Nepal earlier this year to be with her 'love', Sachin Meena, whom she met on the online game PUBG.
Raksha Bandhan, a Hindu festival celebrated on the last day of the lunar calendar month of Shravana, which generally falls in August, holds deep significance. The term "Raksha Bandhan" translates to "the bond of protection, obligation, or care" in Sanskrit and primarily refers to this ritual exchange.