The Indian authorities refused an emergency visa to Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant so she could visit her 82-year-old mother who is sick in Bengaluru. Sawant who provides strong criticism against Hindu Right forces in India asserts that her visa rejection stems from political motivations. Indian officials at the Seattle consulate approved a visa for Calvin Priest but denied her application without any reason while placing Sawant on a rejection list.
Vasundhara Ramanujam who is Sawant’s mother currently battles against ischemic heart disease together with hypertension and chronic kidney disease in addition to multiple other conditions. Three weeks ago the doctor wrote an endorsement for Sawant’s emergency visa application yet she has not heard back from officials. Sawant identified the situation as pure political revenge when she spoke.
Sawant has received three visa rejections from Indian officials during the current year of 2024. She requests that all Indian opposition parties come together to combat the “invhuman” family separation policy pursued by the government. Sawant spent ten years on the Seattle City Council after leaving engineering to focus on activism and earned recognition for her advocacy against the Indian CAA along with Seattle’s caste discrimination laws. 
Legal options remain under consideration by Sawant to reverse the visa rejection yet she has not started the legal proceedings. The case started public discussions concerning visa approval prejudices and it also heightened warnings about how Indian government critics are treated.
