Exert pressure for Telugu couple's release

Hyderabad, Dec 8, 2012: YSR Congress Party honourary president Smt. Y.S. Vijayamma on Saturday wrote to the Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid requesting to exert diplomatic pressure on the Norwegian Government for the release of the Telugu couple Chandrasekhar and his wife Anupama who were jailed in that country for over disciplining their son. 

Requesting the Minister to use the country’s good diplomatic relations with Norway to ensure the couple’s release for their reunion with their children back in AP, Smt. Vijayamma also suggested in her letter that legal assistance be provided to them through Indian embassy in Norway to make a strong case against jail term for them when the case comes for trial in a higher court. 

Smt. Vijayamma said in her letter that the couple might have over disciplined their child to control his troublesome behavior at school and without realizing the child rights and legal complications in that country. 

Citing the lower court’s orders following which Chandrasekhar and his wife Anupama were jailed for 18 months and 15 months respectively for over disciplining their elder son Sai Sriram, Smt. Vijayamma said the two children aged 7 and 2 years were left behind in AP under the care of their grandparents. 

She said that YSR Congress supporters from around the globe are also appealing to the Government of Norway through online petitions to take steps for their release. 

Pointing out that this is only a case of cultural differences, she also suggested that the Indian embassy take up counseling sessions for Indian families residing in various countries regarding local laws, culture and etiquette to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future.