India urges German authorities to do all that is necessary to send back Baby Ariha Shah

New Delhi: The Government of India has urged the  German authorities to do all that is necessary to send baby Ariha Shah to India at the earliest, which is also her inalienable right as an Indian national. In reply to media query during media briefing in New Delhi,  

External Affairs Ministry's spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India remains committed to ensuring the return of Ariha Shah from Germany. He said, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in  Berlin, have been persistently advocating for the return of the baby to India. The child is an Indian national and was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office in September 2021, when she was seven months old and she has now been in foster care for more than 20 months.

He added that India's efforts have been guided by the best interests of the child, which we



believe can be fully realised only when she is in her home country where her socio-cultural rights can be safeguarded. He said accordingly, the Ministry of External Affairs have been requesting Germany to return the child to India.

Mr Bagchi said that India is dismayed to learn that the child was abruptly shifted away from her current foster parent to a specialised foster care arrangement and the manner in which this shift was carried out is a matter of concern. He said, we and the parents believe that this rapid change is not in the child’s best interest and could have far-reaching consequences for her emotional and mental development. MEA spokesperson said that India has a robust child welfare and protection system, and there are potential foster parents in the country who are willing to bring up the child in her own socio-cultural milieu.