SEATTLE (Diya TV) — The Indian Consulate in Seattle reported a security incident on Friday evening involving former Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant and members of the organization Workers Strike Back. According to the consulate, the group entered the premises after office hours without authorization and refused to leave when requested. The consulate stated that the individuals exhibited aggressive and threatening behavior towards staff, necessitating the involvement of local authorities.
Sawant, who served on the Seattle City Council from 2014 to 2023, has publicly expressed frustration over the rejection of her visa applications to visit her ailing mother in Bengaluru, India. She claims that her visa applications have been denied multiple times, while her husband was granted an emergency visa. Sawant and her supporters have alleged that the visa denials are politically motivated, citing her criticism of certain Indian government policies.
In a series of posts on social media, Sawant described the group’s actions at the consulate as peaceful civil disobedience, aimed at demanding an explanation for her visa rejections. She reported that consulate officials threatened to call the police if they did not leave.
The consulate has not provided specific details regarding the reasons for Sawant’s visa denials.
