Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday raised the long-pending case of Ariha Shah, a five-year-old Indian girl placed under German child welfare custody, during his discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, seeking a compassionate and speedy resolution of the matter. The issue, though limited in scope, has emerged as a sensitive humanitarian concern and a rare irritant in otherwise strong India–Germany relations.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed at a media briefing that Modi discussed Ariha’s situation during his meeting with Merz in Ahmedabad. He emphasised that New Delhi has consistently engaged with German authorities on the matter at multiple levels, both in Berlin and through diplomatic channels in New Delhi.

“This is a very sensitive issue and we have been discussing it with the German side for a long time,” Misri said. “At one time this was a legal issue; now we should approach it as a humanitarian issue. We are aware of the pain and difficulties of the family and we are trying to help them in every way.”

India’s Focus on Cultural and Linguistic Exposure

While Germany has not agreed to India’s requests to allow Ariha to return to India or to be placed in foster care within the country, Indian authorities have shifted their immediate focus to ensuring that the child remains connected to her cultural roots while in German care.

According to Misri, the Indian side has called for Ariha to be raised in an “Indian environment” to the extent possible. This includes enabling her to interact with Indian people in Germany, participate in Indian festivals, and receive instruction in her mother tongue, Hindi. The Indian government has also requested that Ariha be exposed to the religious and cultural practices of her family.

“These efforts are about preserving her identity and ensuring her emotional and cultural well-being,” Misri said, adding that India would continue to raise the issue with the German government at every level.

“We don’t see it apart from the overall ties with Germany. It gets the same priority as other issues,” he added, underscoring that India remains fully committed to supporting the family.

Background of the Case

Ariha Shah has been in foster care in Germany since September 2021, when she was just seven months old. German authorities, through the Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office), placed her under state care after levelling serious allegations of abuse against her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, who are Indian nationals.

However, the criminal charges against the parents were dropped in February 2022, a development that strengthened India’s diplomatic and consular efforts to secure the child’s return. Despite this, German authorities have continued to retain custody of Ariha, citing child welfare considerations.

The parents are currently allowed to meet Ariha twice a month, and Indian officials have been granted consular access to her on five occasions so far.

Diplomatic Efforts and Family’s Allegations

The Ariha Shah case has been raised repeatedly by India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar with his German counterparts over the years. Prime Minister Modi had also taken up the issue with former German chancellor Olaf Scholz, reflecting the importance New Delhi attaches to the matter.

A group of social workers campaigning under the banner “Save Ariha Team” has called for the girl to be taught Hindi or Gujarati and to be introduced to the Jain faith practised by her parents. Ariha’s aunt, Kinjal Shah, has publicly alleged that the child is being held “against her will” and has appealed for her repatriation to India.

A Humanitarian Issue Amid Strategic Ties

Indian officials have been careful to frame the case as a humanitarian concern rather than a diplomatic confrontation, given the breadth of India–Germany cooperation in trade, technology, defence, and climate action. Still, the prolonged nature of the case has made it a deeply emotive issue in India, drawing attention from civil society groups and lawmakers alike.

With Modi personally raising the matter in his discussions with Chancellor Merz, India has signalled that it expects greater sensitivity and flexibility from the German side. While a resolution allowing Ariha’s return to India remains elusive, New Delhi hopes that sustained diplomatic engagement will at least ensure that the child grows up with a strong connection to her Indian identity until a final decision is reached.