India has reacted angrily to attempts by Norway to keep two Indian toddlers in foster care after their visa ends next month by pointing out that the children were neither orphans nor stateless persons and they enjoyed the protection of the Indian State.
“The children are neither orphans nor stateless. They 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,'' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Wednesday.
Mr. Akbaruddin made the observation following indications that Oslo was trying to keep the toddlers in Norway. Its authorities had by themselves applied for extension of the visas of the one and three-year-old children of Indian origin parents.
“The Government of India was made aware of the fact that the Norwegian authorities were seeking to extend the Residence Permits of the two Indian children,'' noted the spokesperson after which South Block “immediately conveyed its serious concern at the manner in which this was done to the Norwegian Foreign Office, in Oslo as well as in New Delhi.''
Mr. Akbaruddin said India had reiterated its request to accelerate the return of the children by underlining the fact that it had “strong legislative and institutional mechanism to protect the interests of children after their return.”
Child welfare authorities in Norway had accused the NRI parents, Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya, of negligence.
