NEW DELHI: Putting an end to months of diplomatic wrangling and after almost a year of separation from their parents, the two NRI children, Abhigyan and Aishwarya, arrived here on Tuesday to a warm welcome by their grandparents, ministers, senior government officials, and mediapersons.
A Norwegian district court at Stavanger on Monday handed over the two children to the custody of their paternal uncle, Asansol-based dentist Arunabhash Bhattacharya. The kids were accompanied by their Norwegian foster father, a care worker and senior officials of Ministry of External Affairs. Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur also came to the airport to welcome the toddlers.
Krishna’s Message
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna recorded a welcome video message on the return of the children, which was uploaded on the ministry’s YouTube channel.
“They belong to India. They are Indian nationals. I am confident that their uncle will take care of them in the environment of their extended family in India,” he said.
“I thank the government of Norway and in particular the foreign minister for his constructive approach in resolving this humanitarian issue,” Krishna added.
Ajay Bhattacharya, the paternal grandfather, thanked the Indian Government for its help in getting the children back.
“We had lost all hope of getting the children back. It is all because of the efforts of the government that the children are back. We hope the children will now have a peaceful and a normal childhood when they return to Kolkata,” he said.
The Norwegian Ambassador to India, Ann Ollestad, said the two governments had worked very closely and constructively in solving the case. “It illustrates the good relationship between the two countries,” he said.
The Norwegian child welfare services had removed Abhigyan and Aishwarya from Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya last May, claiming emotional disconnect with the parents and placed them in foster care as per the directive of a local court.
Following public pressure, India had been issuing several demarches to the Norwegian government to expedite the return of the children to India since last year.
A special envoy of the rank of Secretary had also travelled to Norway, the first time ever in a consular matter.
The kids’ father, Anurup, is still in Norway, but is planning to return soon for a visit.
The mother, Sagarika, is in India and visiting her parents in Kolkata.
Monotosh Chakrabarty, the maternal grandfather of the kids, hoped for a settlement of the marital discord between the parents.
“Sagarika is happy on their (kids) return, but is pained that her children are not with her. I sincerely hope that whatever dispute is there between the couple is settled quickly so that the kids can get love and care from both their parents,” said Sagarika’a father in Kolkata.
