Mr McAllister asked on Thursday: “Whilst it’s appreciated that a new trade deal with India could support jobs and prosperity in the UK and thus drive growth, can I ask the minister to include in the work underway across Government to prepare for negotiations with India, that those discussions include the immediate release of my West Dunbartonshire constituent Jagtar Singh Johal from arbitrary detention in India prior to concluding any trade deal?”.
India trade deal should secure release of detained British citizen, says MP Talks to secure a trade deal with India should also support the release of a British citizen arbitrarily detained there, a Labour MP has urged.
Ahead of a visit to India by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Douglas McAllister urged negotiators to discuss the release of 37-year-old Jagtar Singh Johal.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his imprisonment breached Mr Johal’s human rights, and have called for his release and compensation.
Business and trade minister Gareth Thomas told the Commons in his reply: “I recognise this is a very significant issue for (Mr McAllister).
