Highlights
- One-year-old Australian citizen stranded in India
- Grandparents are Indian citizens
- Mother and grandmother granted travel exemption and yet unable to travel
One-year-old Arhaan Sanghera is stranded in India with his grandparents after the Australian government introduced border restrictions banning entry of non-citizens and permanent residents.
“My son went to India with my parents on a holiday on February 29th and was scheduled to return on May 1st. But the Australian government banned the entry of foreign nationals due to COVID-19 which means my parents who are Indian nationals and have tourist visas, cannot come back,” Joyjit Sanghera, boy’s father told SBS Hindi.
The grandparents, Jagdish Sanghera and his wife, Harjit Kaur were scheduled to return to Australia with Arhaan on May 1st.
“We won't be with him when he turns two on June 18. It has been more than three months and we still don’t know how long it will take,” Jashanpreet Kaur, the mother said.
Arhaan with grandparents Source: Supplied
Despite travel exemptions, family unable to travel
After several attempts, Ms Kaur was granted an exemption to travel to India by the Australian Border Force but with no return flights, she says she risks losing her job, if she travels to India.
“If I go, there are no flights to come back. We do not know how long will I have to stay there. And if I don't come back in a month, I risk losing my job. Also, my husband has been diagnosed with depression,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Australian High Commission in India has granted an exemption to the grandmother to bring the boy back to Australia.
Source: Supplied
“That too doesn’t work for us as my father is old, suffers from diabetes and is at high-risk [of contracting COVID-19]. The situation in India is bad, cases are going up and there is no one to look after him if my mother comes here,” Mr Sanghera said.
The couple is pleading with the government to grant travel exemption to both parents.
“We don’t see any other way this is possible. I am so depressed. I miss my boy,” Mr Sanghera said.
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