New York(IANS): Coalition Against Genocide, a group of Indian American individuals and organisations fighting against religious fundamentalism, has in an open letter urged Sonal Shah, a member of president-elect Barack Obama's transition team, to come clean on her alleged past affiliations with right wing Hindu outfits.
The Coalition Against Genocide, in their letter that was released to the press Thursday, said her recent statement in which she repudiated espousing the cause of organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), does not allay all of their concerns.
However, it welcomed her recent public statement where Shah said her "personal politics have nothing in common with the views espoused by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or any such organisation".
Shah had issued this statement early this month after the coalition raised questions on her selection in Obama's transition team by arguing that she had undeniable links with organisations like RSS and VHP.
But this is not enough, given the irrefutable public record of her family's linkages to the VHP and other Sangh Parivar organisations, said the Coalition, which a few years ago had successfully launched a campaign against issuing a US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"Your family's connections with the Sangh Parivar have been long, deep, well documented, and presumably continue to this day. So we must respectfully reject any parallels drawn between attempts during the campaign to find president-elect Obama guilty by association and legitimate questions about your past affiliations," the letter said.
The Coalition urged Shah to come clean by publicly urging the Indian government and state governments of Orissa and Gujarat to speedily bring to justice and rehabilitate the thousands of alleged victims of the Sangh Parivar's anti-minority violence and to take immediate and effective measures to prevent such violence in future.
"These steps will lend much credence to your statement that you do not subscribe to the views of Hindu nationalist groups," the letter said, reminding Shah of the high standard of openness and personal accountability set by Obama during his campaign and now as president-elect.
"In that spirit, we hope that you too will take personal responsibility for your undeniable past links with the Sangh Parivar and reconcile your recent statement against the VHP and the RSS with your silence amidst the most egregious human rights violations by them in Gujarat and elsewhere," the letter said.
"We further hope that you will unequivocally disown and repudiate your and your family's past and current associations with the VHP and all other Sangh Parivar organisations," said the Coalition.
The letter has been endorsed by over a dozen Indian American organisations and over two dozen individuals. The letter said they represent families who have grievously suffered from the alleged anti-Muslim and ant-Christian programmes of the VHP.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200811211283.htm
The Hindu, Friday, November 21, 2008 : 1330 Hrs
About Sonal Shah
This is how Sonal is a Changemaker:
Sonal Shah works for Google.org on their Global Development team, where she is working on defining their global development strategy. Prior to Google.org, she was Vice President at Goldman, Sachs and Co. and developed and implemented the firm’s environmental strategy. She is also the co-founder of Indicorps, a U.S.-based non-profit organization offering one-year fellowships for Americans of Indian origin to work on specific development projects in India. As the former Associate Director for Economic and National Security Policy at the Center for American Progress, Sonal worked on trade, outsourcing and post conflict reconstruction issues. Prior to joining the Center, she was the Director of Programs and Operations at the Center for Global Development managing the daily operations and serving as a strategic adviser to the president. She also developed and managed policy and advocacy programs for the Center. Before that she worked for eight years at the Department of Treasury on various economic issues and regions of the world. She was the Director of the office covering sub Saharan Africa, worked in Bosnia and Kosovo after the war, and served as the senior adviser to the Under Secretary and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Treasury during the Asian financial crisis.
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/user/3018/view
No comments:
Post a Comment