Ariha Shah Repatriation: German embassy dodges questions on Indian girl held against family's will

While New Delhi has been repeatedly urging the German authorities to send 21-month-old girl Ariha Shah, living in a foster care since September 2021, back to India at the earliest, Berlin has been turning a deaf ear. “We, Members from both Houses of India’s Parliament, belonging to 19 political parties across the political spectrum are writing this joint letter to you with an urgent request regarding the repatriation to India of Ariha Shah, a two year old baby girl, a citizen of India as are her parents Dhara and Bhavesh Shah. Last week, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Ariha’s continued stay in German foster care and “infringement” of her social, cultural and linguistic rights is of deep concern to the government of India and the parents. “We would like to reiterate that Ariha Shah is an Indian national and her nationality and socio-cultural background is the most important determinant of where her foster care is to be provided,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.