SNP MP submits motion for release of detained Scots man Jagtar Singh Johal

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An SNP MP has submitted a motion urging the UK Government to call for the release of a Scots man who is being detained in India - days after the six year anniversary of his arrest.Martin Docherty-Hughes has asked the UK Government "do what it can" to achieve Jagtar Singh Johal’s immediate release and to pause its current free trade agreement negotiations with the Indian Government.Sikh blogger Johal was in Punjab in northern India for his wedding in 2017 when his family said he was arrested and bundled into an unmarked car.The Dumbarton man said he has been tortured with methods including electric shocks, and faces the death penalty over his activism and campaigning for Sikh human rights.UK Prime Minister Sunak raised Jagtar's case with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit, but Johal's brother accused him of failing to "stand up" for the Dumbarton man.Docherty-Hughes, who represents Johal's constituency of West Dunbartonshire, has now submitted an early day motion for a debate in the House of Commons.This follows the six-year anniversary of Johal's arrest on Friday, November 4.Docherty-Hughes urged the UK Government to support the ruling of a UN Working Group which said in May 2022 that Johal's detention was an arbitrary one.The motion also asked the Government to "do what it can to achieve Jagtar’s immediate release" and to pause its negotiations on the free trade agreement with India "until such time as the Indian Government addresses Jagtar’s arbitrary detention."By 2pm on Wednesday, the motion had signatures for 16 MPs.

Most of these were from SNP MPs, but there was also support from Docherty-Hughes said: “The immovable position of the British Government on the arbitrary detention of my constituent