AN “urgent” meeting between a government minister and the family of Jagtar Singh Johal has finally taken place – after The National revealed a near-two month delay.
Known to friends and supporters as Jaggi, the Scot has been held without charge in India for almost 960 days over allegedly funding an assassination plot and using the internet to radicalise others.
The 33-year-old says he was tortured by Punjab police and his Dumbarton family believe he was targeted over his nationality, Sikh ethnicity and blogging about India’s mass Hindu-on-Sikh violence in 1984.
Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad, who is taking a “personal interest” in the case, agreed to talks with Jagtar’s family.
But almost two months after Jagtar’s solicitor brother Gurpreet Singh Johal sought an “urgent” virtual meeting, no date had been sent. That was revealed in this newspaper on Monday – and Gurpreet received a message from the Foreign Office the next day pledging a short meeting on Tuesday.
The 15-minute session has now taken place. Gurpreet said that had been “constructive” and he has been given further assurances that a longer session can be held later this month.
“We are very grateful for the article. Following that, a meeting was arranged despite nothing for months,” he said, “We are happy that the meeting took place but we’re disappointed that it was only a few minutes, given how high profile this case is. Is this how much they care about Jaggi’s case?”
READ MORE: Months on and still no date for ‘urgent’ Jagtar Singh Johal talks
Jagtar was arrested a fortnight after his wedding to his Indian wife, who has asked not to be identified due to safety concerns. However, she is currently fighting for permission to live with her extended family in Scotland, something backed by Jagtar.
A decision on his bail application was expected to be made yesterday, but this was postponed after India’s National Investigation Agency sought an adjournment until Monday. Meanwhile, he remains at the enormous Tihar Jail and concerns about his welfare continue. Gurpreet said: “Jagtar has been away from his family for 957 days. We feel helpless. Our aim is to get him back home as soon as possible.”
Thanking supporters, he asked that Scots “continue to pray for Jagtar” ahead of his Monday hearing.
The Foreign Office said: “Our staff continue to support Jagtar following his detention in India and are in regular contact with his family and prison officials about his health and wellbeing. Lord Ahmad held a constructive meeting with the [sic] Mr Johal’s family yesterday and agreed to hold a further meeting in the coming weeks.”
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