[R-G] RSS Reception for Sonal Shah + Indian-American Groups Protest Sonal Shah's Appointment +

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/USA/Indian-American_groups_protest_Sonal_Shahs_appointment/articleshow/3696417.cms>
Indian-American groups protest Sonal Shah's appointment
10 Nov 2008, 2000 hrs IST, PTI

NEW YORK
: Three Indian-American groups have protested the appointment of Sonal
Shah in US President-elect Barack Obama's transition team, claiming
that she is closely associated with the VHP and warned against
Hindutva "infiltration" into the power centres of the US society.

In a joint statement, Indian Coalition Against Genocide and Indian
American Coalition for Pluralism and Non Resident Indians for a
Secular and Harmonious India
said they are holding consultations among themselves and like-minded
Indian-American leaders on the issue.

The organisations have asked Shah to clarify her position about her
association with the VHP and its "mother organisation" RSS.

The statement said they have avowed to increase their efforts to
"educate the American politicians and business leaders about the
attempts by the Hindu ultra-nationalist Hindutva movement to
infiltrate the power centres of the US society by giving big donations
and through volunteer work."

The Coalition Against Genocide was instrumental in getting the visa
of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi revoked in 2005, it recalled
and voiced concerns that an attempt might be made to get his visa
reinstated.

After India media reports linked Shah to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,
her brother Anand Shah had said the 40-year economist's family had
nothing to do with the VHP or the Gujarat government.

Shah was on November 6 named in a 15-member team which will oversee
smooth transition of power from the Bush Administration to the
incoming Obama dispensation.

<http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov112008/scroll20081111100142.asp?section=updatenews>
RSS reception for Sonal Shah
DH News Service, New Delhi:

Gujarati expatriate Sonal Shah, an economist who has now been
appointed an advisory member by US President-elect Barack Obama, would
be invited by the RSS and accorded a public reception at her village
in Gujarat.

Shah's father Ramesh Shah, who has strong RSS affiliations, has been
approached by the Sangh outfits to make arrangements for her visit to
her native village Gabat in Sabarkantha.

Asked to comment on Sonal Shah's association with the Sangh Parivar,
the RSS national executive member Ram Madhav told Deccan Herald that
her father had been "a staunch supporter of the RSS". He, however,
denied that she herself was associated with the RSS. "Where are women
in the RSS?" he quipped.

"She has been a Democrat for the last 20 years and has worked very
hard for the victory of Obama for the last six months," said Madhav.

"She is from the family of the RSS... There is nothing wrong with it," he said.

The Shah family migrated to the US in 1970 and has been active in the
overseas VHP activities.

Shah's father had headed the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, which collects
funds from the US residents to support the tribal schools in India run
by  Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, one of the oldest RSS outfits working in
the tribal areas in India.

Appointment sparks protest in US

New York, pti: Three Indian-American groups have protested the
appointment of Sonal Shah in American President-elect Barack Obama's
transition team, claiming that she is closely associated with the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad. They warned against Hindutva "infiltration"
into the power centres of the US society.