The Rt Hon Theresa May MP

Secretary of State 

Home Office

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

 

Date: 11th August 2014

 

Dear Theresa,

 

I am writing to you about the case of Pulkit Maniktala and his mother Karuna Maniktala. As you may be aware, Pulkit and Karuna are the subject of a 38 degrees petition, asking that Karuna be granted a temporary stay visa in order for her to donate a kidney to Pulkit.

 

Pulkit is a 21 year old Indian national, who is currently an International student studying at the University of Warwick. He has been diagnosed with end-stage renal failure, and requires a kidney transplant for which his mother is a match.

 

I am shocked to hear that Karuna has already been denied a visa on the basis that “treatment is available in India”. I feel that this does not take into account the fact that Pulkit is entitled to NHS benefits whilst he qualifies as an International student, nor does it address the severity of his condition.

 

Pulkit is on the long waiting list for a kidney donor and there is no guarantee that he will find a donor immediately. By donating her own kidney, Karuna is ensuring that her son can begin his recovery from this life threatening ailment.

 

Pulkit cannot be expected to continue his studies at University, here in the UK, while undergoing medical treatment in India. I do not believe that Pulkit should have to sacrifice or compromise his education in order to travel back to India, whilst he is already very ill.

 

I, therefore, ask that you look into this case in detail and grant Karuna a temporary stay visa so that she may donate a kidney to Pulkit, and so that he may continue his education without sacrificing his future career prospects.

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

 

Yours sincerely,