PM calls up 99-yr-old ex-Gujarat MLA who donated savings to PM-CARES fund

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called up 99-year-old Ratnabhai Thummar, a former MLA from Gujarat, and thanked him for donating his life’s savings to PM CARES Fund created to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Junagadh (Gujarat): As a gesture of appreciation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called up 99-year-old Ratnabhai Thummar, a former MLA from Gujarat, and thanked him for donating his life’s savings to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund created to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

In a conversation that around three minutes, PM Modi reminded Thummar that he had once visited Thummar in Bilkha town of Gujarat’s Junagadh district.

"I have called you for the donation that you made. You are doing good work at this age. Take care of your health," the PM told Thummar, as per a release issued by the state government.

Modi asked Thummar whether the latter remembers him, to which he replied in affirmative, it stated.

The nonagenarian, who cannot hear properly, was helped by one of his relatives during his conversation with the PM.

"Thummar advised Modi to fight the battle against coronavirus with all his might," the relative said.

The relative said that the nonagenarian had mentioned many times that Modi had once met him at his residence in Bilkha town along with former Gujarat CM Shankarsinh Vaghela.

The relative said that he told the PM that Thummar had expressed his desire to donate his savings at a time when the nation is fighting the battle against coronavirus.

Subsequently, Thummar visited the office of Junagadh district collector on April 17 and handed over a cheque of Rs 51,000 to the state government.

"I decided to donate my savings to the government as I cannot do anything physically to help the nation due to my age," Thummar had told reporters.

He had served as the MLA of Mendarda-Maniyaconstituency in Junagadh constituency between 1975-1980.

He had reportedly not taken salary entitled to him as an MLA at that time. Thummar reportedly doesn't take the pension he is entitled to as a former legislator.

With PTI inputs