SEATTLE, WA—Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant staged a protest outside the Indian consulate here, saying her visa was denied multiple times without explanation. The demonstration led to an altercation, with the Consulate accusing individuals of “unauthorized entry” and calling local authorities to handle the situation without saying too much more.The Indian Consulate in Seattle, in its social media post on February 6, stated that a “law and order situation” arose when “certain individuals” entered the premises after office hours. “We were compelled to call in relevant local authorities to deal with the situation. Further action is being initiated against the trespassers,” the Consulate posted.Sawant, a former Seattle City Council member and vocal critic of the Indian government, said she was protesting after being repeatedly denied a visa, while her husband, Calvin Priest, was granted an emergency visa to visit her 82-year-old ailing mother in Bengaluru.“My husband & I are in Seattle Indian consulate. They granted him 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 posted on her social media handle.Sawant stated that a consular officer told her she was being denied a visa because she was on the Indian government’s “reject list.” She argued that the decision was politically motivated, citing her past actions in Seattle’s City Council.
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