By GAUTHAM NAGESH, Nextgov
Following reports that surfaced last week, a White House spokesman has confirmed to Nextgov that Google executive Sonal Shah will be joining the Obama administration as director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.
Formerly the head of Google's philanthropic arm, Shah is slated to lead the office, which is expected to work with nonprofits and community organizations to encourage "social entrepreneurship." The administration has thus far avoided releasing any details about the mission or structure of the office. Shah also served as a member of Obama's transition team, helping to develop technology policy.
The news of Shah's appointment has been greeted favorably in some circles, particularly among the philanthropic community.
However, her involvement with the White House has been controversial due to her ties to the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is accused of using charitable works in India as a cover for inciting communal hatred. The VHP has been condemned by the State Department and the nonprofit Human Rights Watch for its role in the 2002 mob violence in Gujurat, which resulted in the deaths of 1,000 people, most of whom were Muslims.
Nextgov first reported the allegations following Shah's appointment to the transition team in December. At the time, Shah released a statement denouncing the VHP of America for standing by silently "in the face of its Indian counterpart's complicity in the events of Gujarat in 2002." She also stated that at no time was she affiliated with the VHP of America.
However, a subsequent investigation by Nextgov uncovered email messages from May 1998 revealing Shah was not only an active member of the VHP of America, but considered one of the organization's next generation of leaders. The emails show Shah offering advice to VHP leaders about how to improve public perception of the VHP and directly contradict her claims to have never been affiliated with the organization.
Shah's father, Ramesh, is also known as a leader of the American wing of several right-wing Hindu organizations.
In addition, the Web site of another right-wing Hindu group, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, references a 2004 speech by Shah where she:
"exposed the hypocrisy of the Western way of life, highlighting its wasteful ways and compared them to the simpler but more genuine life in India. She mentioned how Indians would sacrifice whatever they had for their guests, but we in the West cannot even sacrifice a little time for them."
A White House spokesman acknowledged that the administration is aware of the reports but declined to comment on Shah's VHP ties. Regardless, the appointment is one of the most controversial out of the new administration, attracting criticism from both the left and the right.
Perhaps that's why the White House has gone this long without making an announcement. Shah's appointment had been common knowledge in the nonprofit world for months.
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