New Delhi has said that it is “dismayed” by Germany’s decision to “abruptly” move an Indian toddler to one of the orphanages run by the country’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt).
Ariha Shah was taken away from her parents when he was merely seven months old.
Who is Ariha Shah?
Ariha Shah's parents, who work in Germany, have been residents of Mumbai. Last week, they met Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde urging his assistance in the matter.
“We and the parents believe that the rapid shift of [Ariha Shah] is not in the child’s interest and could have far-reaching consequences for her emotional development,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a press conference on Friday.
Bagchi said that New Delhi has demanded “consular access” to Ariha, who has been in the custody of German authorities for close to two years now. He noted that New Delhi has repeatedly been raising the matter with the German authorities.
“Ariha’s continued placement in German foster care and infringement of her cultural and linguistic rights is of deep concern to the government of India and to the parents,” the Indian official stated.
Bagchi said that New Delhi has requested German authorities to allow Ariha to access “cultural immersion” facilities at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin.
He underscored that New Delhi’s efforts in the case have been guided by the fact that Ariha’s “linguistic, religious, cultural and social background” must be preserved.
“Unfortunately, our request in this regard for safeguarding Aria’s national and cultural identity have not been met,” Bagchi remarked.
Bagchi noted that New Delhi’s concerns about the well-being of the child in German foster care remained unaddressed despite assurances by Germany’s foreign minister Anna Baerbock during her visit to the Indian capital last December.
“We urge the German authorities to send Ariha back to India at the earliest, which is also her inalienable right as an Indian national,” the foreign ministry spokesperson underlined.
Bagchi said that India has a "robust child welfare protection system" and there are foster parents in India who were willing to bring up the child in "her own socio-cultural milieu".