Norway: NRI couple meet children

It was an emotional moment for the Bengali couple who are fighting a custody battle with Norway authorities as they met their children on Friday.

The parents met their kids after a long wait of three months that witnessed a tug-of-war between the Indian government and Norway authorities.

Members from Norway's child protection service Barnevernet kept a close watch on the meeting that lasted for around two hours.

The couple from Kolkata, Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, who are non resident Indian (NRI) citizens, have said that Barnevernet took away their two-and-a-half-year-old son Abhigyan and four-month-old daughter Aishwarya on May 11, last year.

The reason cited was that the couple were feeding the children with hands and making them sleep with them in the same bed.

India's Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said it had called in Norwegian ambassador Ann Ollestad to express concerns about the children of a Bengali couple.

Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) M Ganapathi had summoned the diplomat to convey the Indian government's "continued serious concerns" regarding the two young children currently placed in foster care by the Norwegian childcare services.

Ganapathi drew the envoy's attention to the conversation that had taken place between Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Norwegian counterpart on Jan 23 this year, the Ministry said in a statement.

At the meeting Krishna had urged the Norway minister to find an amicable and urgent solution to ensure that the children are united with their extended family in India, it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, senior Left leader Brinda Karat met External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in connection to the release of the children.

Karat reportedly urged Krishna to look into the matter.

She criticised the Norwegian authorities and said that the country has violated ´international laws´ by not releasing the children and keeping them in a foster home in Norway.

"How can a government keep Indian children in a foster home there? It is racist and illegal and violation of international laws,´ said Karat.

On Nov 30, a court in Norway ruled that the two children will be placed in separate foster homes till they are 18, with their parents, who currently live in Stavangers city, being permitted to meet them only twice in a year for one hour at a time.

Earlier in January, the custody battle was solved when the Norwegian government decided to hand over the children to their uncle.