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Minister Jaishankar has assured MP Mhaske that the Indian government remains committed to pursuing all possible avenues to bring Ariha back to India
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He highlighted the sensitive nature of the case, urging all parties to handle it with the utmost care and discretion
The Indian government is actively working to secure the return of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, Ariha Shah, who has been in foster care in Germany for the past 36 months.
The child, originally from Thane district in Maharashtra, was placed in foster care following allegations of minor physical abuse. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has assured that the government is expediting legal procedures to ensure Ariha’s swift return to India.
According to Naresh Mhaske, a local Member of Parliament from Thane, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is making concerted efforts to facilitate Ariha’s return. He revealed that after raising the matter in Parliament, Minister Jaishankar responded with details of the ministry’s ongoing actions. In his letter dated August 16, the Minister stated that due to India’s intervention, German Youth Welfare Authorities decided not to appeal the court orders that granted the parents visitation rights.
The German authorities have permitted regular consular access for Indian embassy officials to visit the child
Minister Jaishankar emphasized the importance of Ariha’s upbringing in her socio-cultural environment in India. He personally raised the issue with his German counterpart, underscoring that Ariha’s long-term welfare would be best served if she were brought up in her native cultural setting.
The MEA and the Indian Embassy in Berlin are working to ensure that Ariha remains connected to her Indian roots. They have shared resources on Jainism, Indian festivals, and other cultural and religious traditions with the foster parents, requesting that these materials be used to familiarize Ariha with her heritage.
Efforts have been made to introduce Ariha to Indian culture, including visits to Indian temples organized by embassy officials.
The government is also exploring options to teach her Gujarati or Hindi to strengthen her connection to her Indian roots. Court orders have granted her parents, Bhavesh and Dhara Shah, visitation rights twice a month, with the duration recently increased.
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