Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant has alleged that her Indian visa application was rejected three times, even as her husband was granted an emergency visa to visit her ailing mother in India. Sawant, a former Seattle City Council member, staged a protest outside the Indian consulate in Seattle, demanding an explanation for the repeated rejections.
Denied Visa, Allowed for Husband
Sawant took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration, stating, “My husband & I are in the Seattle Indian consulate. They granted him an emergency visa for my mother being very sick. But rejected mine, literally saying my name is on a ‘reject list’. And refusing to give explanation why.”
She further claimed that when she refused to leave, officials at the consulate allegedly threatened to call the police.
Peaceful Protest at Indian Consulate
Sawant, accompanied by members of the activist group Workers Strike Back, staged what she described as a “peaceful civil disobedience”. A video posted by the group showed her standing outside the consulate, demanding transparency.
“All we are asking for is an explanation. Why am I on a ‘reject list’? Why is my visa being rejected three times?” she asked in the video.
Indian Consulate’s Response
The Indian consulate in Seattle issued a statement on X, stating that “unauthorized individuals” had entered the premises after office hours.
“Despite repeated requests, these individuals refused to leave the Consulate premises and engaged in aggressive and threatening behavior with the Consulate staff,” the statement read. The consulate added that it was forced to call local authorities to handle the situation and that action would be taken against the “trespassers.”
Who is Kshama Sawant?
Born in Pune, India, Sawant is the daughter of a retired principal and a civil engineer. She later moved to the U.S. and became a prominent socialist politician.
A former member of the Seattle City Council (2014-2023), she was associated with the Socialist Alternative party and played a key role in pushing for a $15 minimum wage in Seattle.
In a 2013 interview with Hindustan Times, Sawant spoke about her early political awakening. “Growing up in India, I saw a stark division—most people live in utter poverty, a struggling middle class, and then the obscenely rich at the top,” she said, adding that these experiences led her to embrace Marxist ideology.
Unclear Future for Sawant’s Travel Plans
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Sawant will be able to travel to India to visit her mother. The Indian authorities have yet to provide a public explanation for her visa rejections.
Sources By Agencies
