Concerned over reports of United States President-elect Barack Obama's transition team member Sonal Shah's links with right-wing Hindu groups, some Indian-Americans have expressed fear that it might possibly influence the US policies towards India.
'... We are legitimately concerned about reports of your personal links with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad -- whose social values, politics and actions are antithetical to Obama's message of hope and inclusiveness -- and how those links might possibly influence your role in the transition team and the new administration's policies towards India and IndianAmericans,' a letter written to Shah by the community members said.
Sonal Shah on 'digital' Obama's technology team
The letter welcomed her recent statement that personal politics have nothing in common with the views espoused by the VHP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and said, 'We fully expect that your actions on the transition team will be faithful to that assertion.'
But, the letter said, her statement does not allay all of their concerns.
The letter has expressed 'dismay and disappointment' that she had not issued a statement at 2002, dissociating herself from the dreadful acts of the VHP and RSS.
Sonal Shah denies links to RSS, VHP
'... We are not aware of any assistance from you or by IndiCorps to the thousands of families affected by the 2002 communal pogroms (in Gujarat), nor are we aware of your speaking out against the funding of organisations implicated in these hate campaigns by charities in the US, with some of whom you have been partnering.
'And, more recently, we have not heard any condemnation from you of the spate of violence against Christian Adivasis being orchestrated by the VHP, for which the Bharatiya Janata Party-partnered government in Orissa has been indicted by the National Commission for Minorities,' the letter said.
'Politics of innuendo carried out against Sonal'
'In the face of these facts, your bold assertion that you have 'always condemned any politics of division, of ethnic or religious hatred, of violence and intimidation as a political tool' is deeply troubling,' the letter by the Coalition Against Genocide said.
The 1500-word letter dated November 20 said the coalition understands her comment that she had been the subject of 'ridiculous tactics of guilt by association'.
'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,' it added.
Indian American on Obama's transition team
'... Obama set a high standard of openness and personal accountability for himself during the campaign. We note from recent events that he is setting a similar standard of transparency for the transition team. 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,' it said.
'We hope you will unequivocally disown and repudiate your and your family's past and current associations with the VHP and all other Sangh Parivar organisations.
'We have no doubt that you will bring your expertise to bear upon the many difficult decisions that the transition team will have to make in the next few weeks. But we also sincerely hope that your actions on the team will be mindful of the welfare and aspirations of all Indians, including minority communities, which are under unprecedented attacks by Hindu nationalist groups,' the letter said.
