"Your bravery will be remembered:" BJP lauds Pakistani man for saving Indians' lives during Hajj

Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ministers have lauded a Pakistani man, named Asif Bashir, for saving the lives of Indian Hajj pilgrims during the extreme heatwave in Saudi Arabia this year.

Over 1.8 million pilgrims from across the world, including the elderly, women, and children, performed the annual sacred ritual this year in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia recorded the highest 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) temperature during the holy pilgrimage, which caused many deaths of the pilgrims, and several others were admitted to hospitals.

The 32-year-old Peshawar man, who works at the Chief Minister's Secretariat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a database supervisor, also had the privilege of performing Hajj this year as a volunteer to assist pilgrims.

According to the details, the young man provided water and life-saving medicines to the pilgrims during the extreme weather conditions.

Bashir also carried multiple pilgrims on his shoulder for an extended distance of three to four kilometres, APP reported.

He saved the lives of around 26 pilgrims, including 17 Indians, who had fainted during the sacred journey due to scorching heat.

However, Indian ministers have heaped praises on Bashir in the letters written to him following his humanitarian spirit.

“Your dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment to serving the pilgrims have been truly commendable”, said Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijju and Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani in the letters.

“I am particularly impressed by your remarkable act of kindness and bravery in providing first aid and transporting patients to the hospitals on your shoulder when ambulances and medical staff were occupied," Rijju said.

"Your bravery will be remembered and your actions will inspire many to follow in your footsteps."

According to APP, Indian and Pakistani pilgrims have bestowed upon Bashir the titles of “Pakistani Angel” and “Mina ka Farishta” (Angel of Mina).

"During rescue, I did not make any discrimination that the person I am helping belongs to which country and my whole effort was aimed at serving humanity by saving those who are in critical condition," Bashir said while talking to APP.

"We provided drinking water and ORS to around 350 to 400 pilgrims who had become fully unconscious," he added.