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Thursday, February 23, 2012 (07:43:11) |
| Tags : Norway Couple's Children, India, Norway, Indian Government |
India protests Norway move on NRI couple's children |
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| New Delhi, Feb 23: An enraged India on Wednesday protested Norway's move to make efforts to extend residence permits of two Indian children under foster care, despite efforts from their parents to obtain custody and Indian government intervening through diplomatic channels for their return.
On learning about the move by the Norwegian authorities, India conveyed its "serious concern" to Norway in strong terms and pointed out to Oslo that the children were neither orphans nor stateless and that their application for permit extension should come either from their parents or from Indian government.
"The Government of India was made aware of the fact that the Norwegian authorities were seeking to extend the residence permits of the two young Indian children who have been put in foster care by the Municipal Child Care Services in Stavanger.
"The government immediately conveyed its serious concerns regarding the manner in which this was done to the Norwegian Foreign Office, in Oslo as well as in New Delhi," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in response to a question from reporters.
Three-year-old Abhigyan and one-year-old Aishwarya, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Stavanger, Norway, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) in May last year on grounds that they were not looked after properly by their parents.
Barnevarne had placed them in foster parental care as per the directive of the local Norwegian court, mandated under Norwegian laws.
"It was pointed out that the children are neither orphans nor stateless persons, and enjoy the protection of the Indian State and any request for extension of residence permit on their behalf should emanate from either the parents or the Indian State," Akbaruddin said.
The Norwegian government was urged once again to expedite the process of return of the young children to India in view of the humanitarian dimension of the issue.
It was underlined that India has strong legislative and institutional mechanism to protect the interests of children after their return to India, he added. (IANS) |
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