FREE JAGGI

730 days. 24 months. 1,051,200 minutes. 63,072,000 seconds.You’re probably wondering what this means. This is theamount of time since Jagtar Singh Johal last knew freedom. For how long will this charade continue? For how long will minority families continue to suffer in silence? For how long will the Sikhs continue to be suppressed?

Hearing after hearing, trial after trial. Lies after lies. How much more time do the Indian authorities require to gather evidence against Scottish born Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton. Who had a sack thrown over his head and was forced into a van by plain-clothes officers on the 4th ofNovember 2017.

Ladies and gentleman in modern day 2019 it is hard to believe that atrocities like this are still being carried out. Innocent till proven guilty used to mean something, nowadays a trial by media is all the information one needs to act like judge, jury and executioner. This is not a normal trial by any means. This is a state vs an Individual. The only way we can get justice for Jaggi is by being his voice and knocking on the barriers that have been placed before us.

This is simply another example of a vicious violation of an individual’s human rights. I have grown tired of asking where the mainstream media coverage is? Where the support from UK Government is? Could you imagine being trapped for two years away from your loved ones rotting in a cell getting tortured for a crime you did not commit? I certainly could not.  I imagine the walls of the prison are best friends with Jagtarfor they hear his every thought and anguish. For whatever doesn’t kill you, simply makes you stronger.

Sikhs across the world are sharing their angst at hearing about the case of Jagtar Singh, recognised as yet another all too familiar tale of a Sikh activist being detained based on spurious claims by the Indian state, with the hashtag #FreeJaggiNow going viral. The case of Jagtar Singh is widely seen within the Sikh community as a continuing trend of Indian authorities, which sees them use the law to detain and quieten dissenters of the state. [Sikh PA]

Enough is enough, Jaggi’s voice may have been silenced but ours have not. If Jagtar Singh Johal really is guilty then where exactly is the so called evidence pinned against him? Or is this yet another abuse of power that will continue to be swept under the rug. This case simply represents how damaged the Indian legal system is in reality. Make no mistake, Scottish activist Jagtar Singh Johal has suffered torture at the hands of the Indian government. There is even written proof, despite diplomatic concerns raised by Britain have not furthered investigation of the torture taken place. Which begs the question what more must a British born citizen do to receive the help he needs on his quest for freedom.

In accordance with the UN, India is the largest democracy in the world. Yet, it fails miserably at operating like one with the continual abysmal treatment of Sikhs and other minorities across the country. If Jagtar really is considered to be guilty then so be it. That can be accepted however a civilised justice system should not be able to hold someone for this length of time without charging them or providing a fair trial. Everybody's human rights need to be upheld & respected.

As Boris Johnson becomes the country’s new Prime Minister, Gurpreet Singh, the brother of detained citizen Jagtar Singh, issued the following statement:

‘Despite promising to do so, Boris Johnson did not meet with our family and MP, Martin Docherty Hughes. I expect him to make amends and to now meet me as Prime Minister. While he was at the Foreign Office, Boris Johnson failed my brother; now that he is in Downing Street, he must not fail him once more as his predecessor in Downing Street and successor in the Foreign Office did. Jaggi’s issue is of the utmost concern to Sikhs across the UK and diaspora, evident through the support seen at countless Sikh events and gatherings since 2017.’

Jagtar has now had over 126 appearances but still not formallybeen charged on any of serious allegations. Fast forward twoyears and there has not been any convictions. During this period there have been 2 UK Prime Ministers, 3 different Foreign Secretaries and several other changes in the Conservative Party. The only consistency between the 2 countries has been that of silence and no action.

The support for the #FreeJaggiNow campaign has been unrelenting. The time for words has passed, we seek answers and demand action. We live to fight injustice another day for people like Jagtar Singh Johal.

#FreeJaggiNow