Sonal Shah renounces ties with VHP, says didn’t expect it to play role in Gujarat riots
Sonal Shah, the Indian-origin member of US president-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, whose links with VHP sparked criticism, has renounced her affiliation with the Hindu outfit accused of fomenting violence against Muslims and Christians in ...
By PTI |
WASHINGTON: Sonal Shah, the Indian-origin member of US president-elect Barack Obama���s transition team, whose links with VHP sparked criticism, has renounced her affiliation with the Hindu outfit accused of fomenting violence against Muslims and Christians in India.
Ms Shah, former member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has said if she could have anticipated the outfit���s role in the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat, she would have never associated with its US branch, a year before the incident.
���Had I been able to foresee the role of the VHP in India in these heinous events, or anticipate that the VHP of America could possibly stand by silently in the face of its Indian counterpart���s complicity in the events of Gujarat in 2002���thereby undermining the American group���s cultural and humanitarian efforts with which I was involved���I would not have associated with the VHP of America,��� Ms Shah said.
In a statement, obtained and posted by NextGov and the National Journal, the Google executive said the 2002 Gujarat carnage was one of the ���most profound tragedies��� in the long history of the state when ���extremist political leaders, including some associated with the VHP, incited riots killing thousands.���
Ms Shah, former member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has said if she could have anticipated the outfit���s role in the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat, she would have never associated with its US branch, a year before the incident.
���Had I been able to foresee the role of the VHP in India in these heinous events, or anticipate that the VHP of America could possibly stand by silently in the face of its Indian counterpart���s complicity in the events of Gujarat in 2002���thereby undermining the American group���s cultural and humanitarian efforts with which I was involved���I would not have associated with the VHP of America,��� Ms Shah said.
In a statement, obtained and posted by NextGov and the National Journal, the Google executive said the 2002 Gujarat carnage was one of the ���most profound tragedies��� in the long history of the state when ���extremist political leaders, including some associated with the VHP, incited riots killing thousands.���
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
