Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tarun Vijay and his wife on Monday met Norway's Ambassador to India Ann Ollestad to convey the anguish of the parents of the two Indian children who are now in a childcare home in Norway.
In a statement issued here, Mr. Vijay said he was surprised when the envoy, during their meeting, strangely brought up the case of cancellation of 2G licence of a Norwegian company by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Vijay, accompanied by his wife Vandana, called on Ms. Ollestad to demand that the two children be released immediately. According to Mr. Vijay, the Ambassador told them that the details of the children's custody case were “confidential” and could not be disclosed but the Norway government respected the cultural differences.
When the envoy insisted that the welfare of the children was central, Mr. Vijay maintained that keeping the children away from their mother could not be in their interest. It was shocking that such an incident was happening in Norway, considered a democratic, humane and pluralistic country.
“I told her that this is having a bad impact on India-Norway relations. At this, the Ambassador strangely brought up the issue of the country's $3.5-billion investment in India's telecom sector which was struck down by the Supreme Court recently,” Mr. Vijay told The Hindu.
Mr. Vijay's wife Vandana intervened at this point and said investment in human relations should be the priority, not dollars. “We want our children back home soon with their parents and their visa, which is expiring soon, should also be extended,” Mr. Vijay told the envoy.
The couple also sent Indian chocolates for the two children — Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1).
