Gandhinagar

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday said that India remains actively engaged with German authorities in the case of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who has been in foster care in Germany for over three years, stressing that New Delhi is addressing the issue from a humanitarian perspective while continuing to support the family.

Speaking at a media briefing, Misri said Indian officials have maintained regular communication with their German counterparts, both in India and Germany. “We have been in continuous touch with the German government, the German embassy in New Delhi, authorities in Berlin, and all agencies involved in this matter for a considerable period of time,” he said.

Misri noted that although the case had earlier followed a legal route, India believes it should ultimately be handled with sensitivity to humanitarian concerns. “While this was treated as a legal issue at one stage, our view is that it needs to be approached with an understanding of the humanitarian aspects involved,” he said.

Acknowledging the emotional strain faced by the family, the Foreign Secretary said the government is fully aware of their situation. “We recognise the distress and hardship the family is experiencing, and we are making every possible effort to assist them,” he said.

He also highlighted steps being taken to ensure that Ariha remains connected to her Indian cultural roots during her stay in Germany. “We are trying to see that Baby Ariha is brought up, as far as possible, in an Indian cultural setting — whether through interaction with the Indian community or participation in Indian festivals celebrated there,” Misri said.

In addition, efforts are being explored to help the child remain connected with Indian languages and cultural learning. “We would like to facilitate arrangements that allow her to learn Hindi as well,” he added.

Misri said the matter has been raised at the highest diplomatic level. “The Prime Minister has also discussed this issue with the German Chancellor. We will continue to pursue this with the German government and stand by the family at every stage,” he said.

His comments came as Ariha Shah’s family renewed their appeal to both Indian and German authorities to engage in dialogue to safeguard the rights of the child, stating that German authorities have cleared her parents of all allegations.

Ariha was taken into German foster care in September 2021, when she was seven months old, following an accidental injury caused by her grandmother. She has remained under foster care in Germany since then.

Meanwhile, the Save Ariha Team on Saturday voiced serious concern over the prolonged separation of the child from her family and urged the Government of India to pursue diplomatic intervention for her early return, particularly ahead of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India.

In a statement, the group said Ariha continues to remain under the custody of German child welfare services (Jugendamt) in Berlin, despite the closure of all police cases against her parents in February 2022. It also claimed that the child has been shifted between five different foster homes.

These appeals follow remarks made last week by the Ministry of External Affairs, which said progress has been made in the case and that additional steps are being taken to ensure Ariha’s upbringing takes place in a culturally supportive environment.

MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said during the weekly briefing that the issue was also raised during the recent visit of the German Foreign Minister to India.

READ MORE: Real Hero Hussain Mansuri wins hearts of blind Pune students

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is on a two-day official visit to India from January 12 to 13, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. The visit coincides with 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Germany and marks 25 years of their Strategic Partnership.