Hi Santosh You might like to check the following out also. http://www.sacw.net/article328.html This is from Coalition against genocide.
Please note that VHP/ RSS has been involved in Genocide before 2002 also. The Mumbai riots post Babri are one example. So, trying to associate with charity work from VHPA also shows a certain attitude. Of course, Sonal being an American can wash her hands off nicely saying she has nothing to do with Indian politics. That to me is a convenient stance, typical second generation Indian-American. The letter above asks Sonal to do more --- help the perpetrators of Gujarat riot to book. Would she do anything on that front ? Or will she wash it off conveniently saying it is India's internal matter? regards, Samir --- On Sun, 12/14/08, Santosh Helekar <chimbel...@yahoo.com> wrote: > From: Santosh Helekar <chimbel...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Goanet] Sonal Shah renounces VHP affiliation > To: goanet@lists.goanet.org > Cc: samir_kele...@yahoo.com > Date: Sunday, December 14, 2008, 12:59 PM > --- On Sat, 12/13/08, Samir Kelekar > <samir_kele...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > Even if we went just by Sonal Shah's words, it is > clear that she did >fund-raising for VHP in 2000 during > the Gujarat earthquake. The only fact >of Marshall's > that I am believing here is that she was still associated > >with VHP after the Gujarat pogrom and even gave speeches > as its >representative. Now, this fact could be false, > but Sonal hasnt >explicitely said so. > > > > Samir, > > You have to go by her words and those of the people who > know her. Here is an appeal from eminent Indians who know > her well, entitled "Politics of innuendo being carried > out against Sonal Shah" > http://www.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=//news/2008/nov/13sonal-eminent-persons-respond-to-charges.htm > > Here is a latest article in Washington Post in defense of > her by an Indian American Muslim who is offended by the > dishonest attacks against her: > http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/eboo_patel/2008/12/sonal_shah_indian-american_in.html > > For your information, Sonal Shah raised funds not for VHP, > but on behalf of a consortium of Indian American > organizations of which the charity VHPA or VHP America was > one. VHPA is a Hindu American charity registered under 501c3 > classification of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service code. A > 501c3 organization is prohibited from participating in any > political activity. The VHPA has donated funds to other > 501c3 organizations such as the American Red Cross, American > Cancer Society and Salvation Army. > > Sonal Shah has clarified her charitable work and > association with these organizations as follows: > > "After the devastating earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, > I worked on behalf of a consortium of Indian-American > organizations to raise funds for humanitarian relief. The > Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A), an independent > charity associated with the eponymous Indian political > group, was among these organizations, and it was the only > one to list my name on its website. I am not affiliated with > any of these organizations, including the VHP-A, and have > not worked with any of them since 2001." > > Now unless you don't believe her and believe Marshall, > who does not know her, instead, the above should answer your > question as to whether she has been a representative of VHP > before and/or after the Gujarat pogrom. Now please tell me > what evidence did Marshall provide you to support your > assertion that she was a representative of the VHP, and to > support your other speculations regarding her ideology and > that she has something to do with Modi. > > Cheers, > > Santosh