In a sharp reaction to the attempt by the Norwegian authorities to keep two Indian children in foster care after their visa expires next month, India on Wednesday said the kids were neither 'orphans or stateless' and enjoyed the 'protection of the Indian State'.
In a terse statement issued by the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs India said: "The children are neither orphans nor stateless persons, and enjoy the protection of the Indian state and any request for extension of residence permit on their behalf should emanate from either the parents or the Indian state."
The remarks came following reports that claimed Norwegian officials were trying to keep Abhigyan, 3, and his sister Aishwarya, 1, in Norway after their visas expire next month.
The authorities have applied for extension of visa of the two kids on their own.
Mr. Akbaruddin said the government has 'immediately conveyed its serious concerns regarding the manner in which this was done to the Norwegian foreign office in Oslo as well as in New Delhi."
He added the Norwegian government has been urged once again to expedite the process of return of the young children to India in view of the humanitarian dimension of the issue.
"It was underlined that India has strong legislative and institutional mechanism to protect
the interests of children after their return to India," he said.