4 weeks ago
Last Updated:March 21, 2025, 16:58 IST
Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian student at Columbia University in the US, self-deported herself to Canada after her student visa was cancelled for being involved in activities supporting Hamas.
Ranjani Srinivasan self-deported after her visa was revoked by the Trump administration for supporting pro-Palestine protests. (X/Reuters)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that it expects Indian nationals abroad to comply with the local laws and regulations in a way the Ministry would expect foreigners to follow Indian laws when in the country.
The remarks by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, came while responding to a query on the revocation of a visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student from Columbia University, for allegedly supporting Hamas on campus.
MEA On Ranjani Srinivasan’s Visa Revocation
Jaiswal said that it is expected of Indian nationals abroad to comply with the laws of the foreign country.
“When it comes to visa and immigration policy, it lies within the sovereign function of a country. We expect the foreign nationals coming to India to abide by our laws and regulations and similarly, it is our expectation that when Indian nationals are abroad, they must also comply with local laws and regulations," he said at a weekly press briefing.
Srinivasan, in the wake of the cancellation of her visa, fled to Canada over fears that she would be detained amid a crackdown across the United States on pro-Palestinian protesters.
In an interview with CBC News, she denied the US Department of Homeland Security’s allegations of supporting Hamas — a designated terrorist organisation.
“I’m not a ‘terrorist sympathizer. So, I just find it kind of absurd," she said.
The Indian student also denied participating in a high-profile protest at Columbia University last spring, when the students took over the building and the police had to storm in to take control of the situation.
MEA On Badar Khan Suri’s Detention
When asked about Badar Khan Suri, the Indian student who was detained by the US immigration authorities over his alleged “close connections to a suspected terrorist", the MEA spokesperson said that he has not approached the Indian Embassy in the United States so far.
“We are given to understand through media reports that this particular individual, has been detained. Neither the US government nor the individual has approached us or the Embassy," he said.
Khan, a Georgetown University researcher, is studying and teaching in the US on a student visa and is accused by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of “spreading Hamas propaganda" and having “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist".
Location : First Published:March 21, 2025, 16:49 IST
News india India On Postdoc Fellow Facing US Deportation Over Hamas Links: '...Should Comply With Local Laws'
