UK GOVERNMENT MUST SHOW THE COURAGE TO PUBLICLY CALL FOR JAGTAR’S IMMEDIATE RELEASE IN TODAY’S DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

19 January 2023 London

Many will be closely following the debate this morning in Parliament on the imprisonment and arbitrary detention of Jagtar Singh Johal in India for over 5 years.

In one of Boris Johnson’ last acts as Prime Minister he wrote to Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) on 7 July 2022. The letter is reproduced below.

He admitted Jagtar “has been detained arbitrarily in India, for the past four years” since his abduction on 4 November 2017 and subsequent torture at the hands of Indian police. Jagtar remains in arbitrary detention and at risk of further physical and mental torture.

Jeremy Hunt as Foreign Secretary told Jagtar’s wife when he met her in April 2019 that Jagtar would not get a fair trial. He now faces the possibility of being given the death penalty on the basis of a confession obtained while he was tortured.

Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly must use the opportunity in today’s debate to ensure the UK Government publicly calls for Jagtar’s immediate release. This is government policy with regards to arbitrarily detained British nationals.

Dabinderjit Singh, the Principal Adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:

“The UK Government must be prepared to stand up to India on behalf of innocent British citizens.” “Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly will show weakness if they fail in today’s debate to call for Jagtar’s immediate release.” “It will also call into question if the UK Government led by Rishi Sunak is conflicted because of his close family ties with Narendra Modi, the Indian PM.”

ENDS Jaspal Singh National Press Secretary Sikh Federation (UK) info@sikhfeduk.com