‘She was family’: Gautam Gambhir performs last rites of domestic help during lockdown; netizens laud BJP MP

World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir has been praised by netizens for performing the last rites of his domestic help during the coronavirus lockdown

New Delhi: Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who is now a BJP MP from East Delhi, has won hearts for performing the last rites of his domestic help during the coronavirus lockdown.

After being praised for performing last rites of his domestic help Saraswati from Odisha, Gambhir took to his Twitter account to say “she was family”. She worked at Gambhir's home for the last seven years.

The 2011 World Cup winner wrote on his Twitter page, “Taking care of my little one can never be domestic help. She was family. Performing her last rites was my duty. Always believed in dignity irrespective of caste, creed, religion or social status. Only way to create a better society. That’s my idea of India! Om Shanti (sic).”

“Saraswati was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi on 14 April as she was battling diabetes and blood pressure for a prolonged period. However, she breathed her last while undergoing treatment on April 21. Gambhir who is an MP from East Delhi had contacted Saraswati family,” Indian Express newspaper reported.

“As shifting of the body to Odisha from New Delhi was not possible due to the lockdown, we requested him to conduct her last rites there,” Saraswati’s brother Prafulla Patra was quoted as saying by the newspaper.