New Delhi: India is 'actively' pursuing with Norway the matter of the separation of two children from their natural parents, an NRI couple, by the Norwegian Childcare Services which placed them under foster care.
External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Sunday spoke to Indian Ambassador in Norway, asking him to meet Norwegian Foreign Minister and demand for release and handover kids to their parents.
"If at any cost it can't be done as per their laws, then kids should be sent back to India to their grandparents. It should be treated with utmost seriousness," he said. Krishna will be speaking to Norwegian Foreign Minister on Monday.
Ministry of External Affairs said the matter has been pursued actively with Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the strong demarches that were made in Oslo and here on
January 5, 2012.
NRI couple Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya's children Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1) were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services), which claimed emotional disconnect with the parents, and placed them in foster parental care according to the local Norwegian court's directive.
On January 12, 2011, an official of the Indian Embassy in Oslo visited the foster home where the young children are staying and ascertained that they were in good health, the MEA said in a release.
Following the visit, the Embassy reiterated the concerns of Indian government to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the children were being deprived of the undoubted benefits of being brought up in their own ethnic, religious cultural and linguistic milieu.
Hence, the return of the children to India so that they can be brought up in familiar surroundings under the loving care of their extended family would be in their best long-term interests.
"The Norwegian authorities have expressed understanding for the government s concerns and it is understood that they are trying to find a solution. The matter will continue to be pursued with them actively," the ministry said.
(With additional inputs from PTI)
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