Kshama Sawant says she is being blocked from visiting her ailing mother in India over her efforts on the Seattle City Council and for workers worldwide.
The former District 3 representative is calling for support as she says the Indian government is blocking her application for a visa as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “blatant acts of political retaliation” against critics.
“Their latest target appears to be Kshama Sawant, who has applied three times for a visa to travel to India. No official reason has been provided for the multiple rejections,” a petition shared by the former socialist Seattle council member reads.
The petition says Sawant’s mother is 82 years old and in rapidly declining health. “We urge the Modi government to adopt a humane policy and urgently grant a visa for Kshama Sawant and her husband Calvin Priest to be able to travel to India to visit Kshama’s mother,” the statement reads.
Sawant also says the Indian Consulate took her and Priest’s U.S. passports as part of the application process.
One of Mumbai-born Sawant’s last successful legislative acts in the city was driving the creation of new protections against caste discrimination in Seattle. In February 2023, Seattle, became the first in the country to add caste protections in the workplace.
Sawant ended her final term in 2024 as her final bid for rent control fell short after a decade on the council. She has largely focused since on campaigning against the Democratic Party and growing Workers Strike Back, a campaign to form a new leftist national party.
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What does she expect people here to do? If India doesn’t want her, that’s their business and their prerogative.
People might write to the State Department to intervene. Under this administration, though, I don’t know if it would go very far.
Believe this is for the best. Within India, she will have to face charges under BNS 217 (providing false information to public servant) for SCC resolution 31926. Although a bailable offense, it means rolling the dice on spending a year in jail. Only way out is to grant diplomatic credentials, but countries can refuse to accept diplomats at will.
yes this administration she helped elect with her and her supporters nationwide backing Stein.
I’m so glad I only have to hear about her like once a year for shit like this or when she campaigned for Trump
She did not campaign for rumpy. She took a shiv to democrats.
There’s a difference.
And what is the difference?
One is standing on a stump and dismantling the left and not the right as well. She’s like a socialist grenade. Anyone near here will hear it and feel it in all the good ways and bad that comes with “Burn it down” politics.
The “loyalty” is not there because they do not deserve it. Their approval rating in congress is really bad. NOBODY trusts anyone. I meaN…These people can not police themselves. They are planted firmly by gerrymandering and such.
The difference is not much. But think of it this way. It’s not at all a popular position she is in. A group of loyalists. She’ll never affect Seattle/WA. like she used to. Tim Eyman is the opposite yang to her ying.
So I honestly am not worried about her. I am worried about ACTUALLY losing our republic. It is happening as I type. Literally.
Dude. Why?
Word games prove how unserious you are.
not much
She said her goal in supporting Jill Stein was not to win the presidency but to deny Kamala Harris. So yes, she was advocating for Donnie to win by saying she wanted Harris to lose.
Can you not see the difference? The difference is that she and her minions tilted the vote, just enough.
Why is no one screaming about gaza now? Because we fooled around and found out!
Shame on the pseudo-righteous, which come to think of it, sounds like me. Darn it.
Samre result! Taking a ‘shiv to democrats’ leaves us with Judges that ended that right to abortion, voter rights, added much more money allowed in politics….. SO happy her and her voters felt happiliy righteous not voting Dem. Everything her and her voters wanted just got much further away. It will take decades to get the courts leaning left. FAFO
I will gladly write the state dept in a petition to let her into India, only condition is that she can never come back
Am I supposed to care about her? She certainly didn’t care about me. In fact, she vilified me and my livelihood. And everything in Seattle is more expensive because of her.
who knew that being a jerk would have consequences
Pls get over yourself, Kshama.
maybe if she didn’t burn all the bridges with the left here more people would think about standing with her. it’s def retaliation, but seriously girl, you could have been a team player, we literally all agreed with you and handed you wins only for you to prefer being ideologically pure.
I shed no tears for Sawant. Actions have consequences.
So what!