NEW DELHI: India is concerned that he should be in his own linguistic, religious, cultural and social milieu and it is his right, EAM Jaishankar said on Monday about the Indian child who is in German custody. Jaishankar said during the press conference, “The matter is related to a girl child named Ariha Shah. We are concerned that she should be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment. It is her right.” The baby girl, Ariha Shah, was accidentally hurt by her grandmother in September last year, following which the German authorities took her away. Describing it as a matter of concern, Jaishankar said that the Indian Embassy is considering it with the German authorities.
The External Affairs Minister further said that she has taken up the child’s situation with the Foreign Minister of Germany, who is on his two-day visit to India.
“Our embassy is pursuing this with the German authorities. It was a matter that I raised with the minister,” the foreign minister said. Germany’s ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, said on November 30 that his country has noted India’s concern for a newborn baby in foster care and is aware of the seriousness of the situation.
There is a case related to a girl named Ariha Shah. We are concerned that she should be in her own linguistic, religious, cultural and social milieu. This is his right. Our Embassy is working on this with the German authorities. It was a matter that I took up with the Minister: External Affairs Minister pic.twitter.com/mxL1jUrsHz
– ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2022
Responding to a question from ANI, Ackermann said, “The German government has taken note of the Indian government’s concern in this matter. We are well aware of the seriousness of the issue. It is always a very problematic moment when you Take a child away from its parents.”
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that the government is intervening and negotiating with the German authorities regarding the Indian child in foster care for over a year from September 2021.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The Government of India has been intervening and negotiating with the German authorities in this matter for more than a year from September 2021.”
A Gujarati couple separated from their young daughter is making every effort to reunite. According to multiple media sources, the infant was inadvertently injured by his grandmother in September last year. German authorities took the child away after accusing the couple of sexual assault.
“The case of the Indian child in foster care in Germany is a sensitive matter and under consideration,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.