Norway children issue: Brinda Karat seeks Krishna's immediate attention

New Delhi, Feb 14 (ANI): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Brinda Karat, who met External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna here on Tuesday along with the parents of the two Indian children detained by Norway authorities, said she has requested him to intervene in the matter in order to work towards a resolution.

"The point I want to make is that admittedly there is no culpable crime. The Norwegians themselves have said there is no culpable crime and therefore, it is an arbitrary, subjective decision they have taken to snatch the children away. We are saying whatever the case may be, hand them back to the Indian government and bring them back to India," Karat told the media here soon after the meeting.

"How can a government forcibly keep Indian citizens, Indian children, Indian minors in a foster home? They are not Norway citizens. How can they do this? Therefore, we have asked the External Affairs Minister and I am confident that they will intervene," she added.

The senior Left leader further said Krishna had earlier intervened in this case.

"Well, earlier the External Affairs Minister had very kindly intervened in the case. As a result of which the case has moved forward. But the immediate issue of deep concern is that the Head of the Child Protection Services, Gunnar Toresen, in Norway has made a public statement that there is no question of giving the children to the person designated by the parents, namely the uncle of the children till at least April," said Karat.

"That means that they have already pre-judged the issue and they are not prepared to send Indian citizens back to their own country. They have no right to keep those children any further," she added.

Three-year-old Abhigyan and one-year-old Aishwarya have been placed under the care of two different foster families in Norway. The Norway authorities had said that the children were taken away as their parents, Sagarika and Anurup, were not taking proper care of them.

The parents, however, said the authorities took exception to cultural differences such as sleeping with the children and breastfeeding the daughter at scheduled times as opposed to when she cried. (ANI)