India, Jan. 12 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of Ariha Shah, the five-year-old Indian girl placed in the care of German child services following allegations of abuse against her parents, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday and sought a speedy resolution of the matter.

The Indian side called for Ariha to be better exposed to Indian culture, her mother tongue and religion while in the care of German child services. The case of the child, who has been in foster care since September 2021, remains of the rare irritants in India-Germany relations.

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri confirmed at a media briefing that Modi raised the issue with Merz when the two leaders met in Ahmedabad. "This is a very sensitive issue...