Envoy in Norway to seek kids’ custody

The government’s special envoy, Madhusudhan Ganpathi, arrived on Monday in Oslo to discuss the row over the custody of two NRI children with the Norwegian foreign minister.

The government’s special envoy, Madhusudhan Ganpathi, arrived on Monday in Oslo to discuss the row over the custody of two NRI children with the Norwegian foreign minister.

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He took up the matter with authorities in Oslo along with Arunabhash Bhattacharya, the uncle of the two children. The visas of the two children expire on March 8.

Meanwhile, the grandparents of the children sat on a protest outside the Norwegian embassy in Delhi, demanding the release of the children. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Left leader Brinda Karat also sat on protest.

Swaraj said, “What kind of a law is this? In India, we call it kidnapping. The government needs to be serious about solving this problem.”

Karat hailed the move of the Indian government to send a special envoy to Norway. She said, “Why is Norway acting like it’s a law unto itself? Even the UN has criticised this move. Sending an envoy is a positive step in creating pressure.”

Ganpathi is scheduled to meet Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Store to convey India’s concerns over the matter involving Aishwarya, 1, and Abhigyan, 3, who were taken away by the child welfare officials in Norway in May last year and placed in foster care.

The kids’ parents, NRI couple Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya, were accused of negligence by the Norwegian child welfare officials.