The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has summoned German Ambassador Philip Ackermann in the Ariha Shah case and asked him to return her to India at the earliest, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi today.Bagchi stated that high priority was given to the case, and the German Ambassador was called this week regarding this. “We’ve asked the German authorities to bring back the child at the earliest. We are in touch with the German authorities,” he said, as per reports.Baby girl Ariha was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on Sept 23, 2021 after the then seven month-old baby suffered an accidental injury. She has been in foster care since then over allegations of parental abuse. India’s stand on baby Ariha India has been maintaining that it is important for the child to be in her linguistic, religious, cultural and social environment.On July 20 this year, at a media briefing, Bagchi said sending back the child to India is important for her cultural and national identity.“We have made very clear our desire to safeguard the child’s cultural and national identity and ensure her return to India. We remain engaged with German authorities in this regard,” he had said.“There are separate parallel judicial proceedings underway and we are keeping close track of that,” Bagchi said, replying to a question on the matter.External affairs minister S Jaishankar also conveyed to his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock raising concerns over the baby girl in Dec last year.Jaya Bachchan requests govt to bring Ariha backRajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan on Aug 2 came out in support of Dhara Shah, mother of Ariha Shah, and said that she will request the Indian government to bring back her child.Speaking to media persons outside Parliament, Bachchan said, “She is Dhara Shah and she has come from Germany. Her daughter Ariha Shah has been taken by the German government for two years now.”She said that she has come to seek help from the parliamentarians.“Due to cultural differences, they have taken a strict stand and we want to speak against that and we also want to request the external affairs minister (S Jaishankar) and the German embassy as well,” she said.She said that there is an agency which looks after the children. A house has been identified that is there in Gujarat.“We request the Indian government to bring the child and keep her in a foster home in India,” Bachchan said.“The necessary judgement should be made by the Indian govt and not by the German government,” Bachchan added.Earlier last month, Indians in Germany held a peaceful protest, calling for baby Ariha's repatriation.(Source: IANS)-Edited for styleFor more such updates and news on the go, follow us onInstagram | YouTube | Facebook