WEST Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes is stepping up pressure on Jeremy Hunt over a constituent kept in an Indian jail for nine months.
Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in the days after his wedding in the Punjab region last November.
The internet marketer’s trial hearing was supposed to take place yesterday, but was rescheduled for the second time running after the prosecution failed to bring forward witnesses for cross-examination.
His brother Gurpreet Singh, a lawyer from Dumbarton, says the family fears it could be years before an outcome is reached, and say there is no evidence to support charges of involvement with targeted killings on right-wing Hindu figures.
The #FreeJaggiNow campaign contends that he was singled out for translation work carried out for a website documenting mass violence against Sikhs in India in 1984.
Foreign Office minister Rory Stewart last year said “extreme action” would be taken if it was confirmed that Jagtar, known as Jaggi, had been tortured in jail.
However, ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson did not meet with the family’s MP, despite an assurance given in the House of Commons.
Now Docherty-Hughes is pressing his successor Jeremy Hunt (pictured below) to meet the commitment and help the family, which includes Jaggi’s elderly father.
He said: “In the nine months since Jagtar’s detention, his family here in Dumbarton have been tireless campaigners on his behalf. Their determination in the face of such heartache and concern for his wellbeing has been remarkable.
“I continue to work closely with Jagtar’s family, raising Jaggi’s case repeatedly in Parliament and highlighting concerns about his mistreatment.
“Whilst Boris Johnson showed little interest in my constituent’s plight during his time as foreign secretary, I expect his successor to honour the commitment made to my constituent’s family.
“It’s been a frustrating process, but we remain determined to do everything possible to ensure Jaggi is afforded a fair and transparent judicial process by the Indian authorities.
“I hope to secure a meeting with the new Foreign Secretary as soon as possible to press for his full support on behalf of Jagtar and his family.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says it is assisting the UK national.
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