Modi helps 'Ambulance Dada' to click a 'perfect selfie'

Kareemul Haq honoured with Padma Shree in 2017 for running a free ambulance service on his two-wheeler in West Bengal

In a rare gesture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taught a philanthropist how to take a 'perfect selfie'.

Kareemul Haq, commonly known as 'Ambulance Dada' or 'Ambulance Man', was stopped by the premier for a short chat during 'At Home' reception held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official home of the Indian president.

After receiving an unexpected premier gesture, Haq asked PM Modi to have a selfie together on his cellphone.

On being asked for a selfie, he nervously struggled with his phone, at which the prime minister asked to do the 'honours' himself.

“I wanted a picture with the prime minister, but I’m not very handy with the phone. Prime Minister Modi then took the picture from my phone," the joyful philanthropist said.

PM Modi clicks A selfie with Kareemul Haq. PHOTO COURTESY: THE HINDU

He went on to say, "After that, without any prompting, he enquired about my ambulance service. He then asked me whether the bridge that I had wanted to be built – to cross from our village to several other interior areas – had been constructed. I had told him last year that the bridge would ease our commute. I told him that we were still waiting for it and he promised that it would be done soon.”

Kareemul Haq runs a two-wheeler ambulance. PHOTO COURTESY: HINDUSTAN TIMES

Haq was honoured with the prestigious award, Padma Shree, in 2017 for running his free ambulance service on his two-wheeler in rural West Bengal.



“I am happy that he [Modi] remembered and I feel that we will get our bridge soon,” he added.

The event hosted several former Padma Shree awardees along with chief guests, heads of governments of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries, former PM Manmohan Singh, former Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

This article originally appears on The Hindu.