In light of increasing reports of Indian students facing abrupt visa revocations in the United States, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic intervention. Brittas has called for the matter to be raised with the US government at the “highest appropriate levels” to seek justice for affected students.
In a strongly-worded letter, Brittas highlighted the “deeply distressing and increasingly alarming” situation where hundreds of Indian students are allegedly facing visa cancellations without prior notice or sufficient explanation.
“What deepens the distress is the nature of the reasons cited for these visa revocations—many of which are astonishingly petty, disproportionate, and wholly incongruous with the gravity of the action taken,” the MP stated.
According to Brittas, reasons for revocation reportedly include minor traffic violations, unintentional documentation lapses, academic infractions without due inquiry, and even social media posts or journalistic writings—particularly those commenting on sensitive issues like the Palestinian conflict. Some students were allegedly penalized for minor mishaps, such as failing to properly scan items at self-checkout kiosks in stores.
The CPI(M) leader criticized the “opaque and arbitrary” nature of the visa cancellations, saying the lack of procedural fairness has created a “chilling atmosphere of fear and uncertainty” for Indian students striving for academic goals in the US.
Brittas urged Jaishankar to not only take up the issue with the US administration but also direct Indian Missions in the US to provide full legal and consular assistance to affected students, including representation and welfare support.
“We must not allow our youth to be subjected to indignities and jeopardy on foreign soil. We need to stand firmly by them in their hour of crisis,” Brittas emphasized.
In response to growing concerns, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated earlier that Indian Missions in the United States are actively engaging with the students and offering them support regarding visa-related issues.
As the crisis unfolds, the demand for a robust diplomatic response continues to gain momentum, with growing calls to ensure transparency, procedural justice, and protection for Indian students abroad.
Sources By Agencies