As some of you may know, Transition Board member for President-Elect Barack Obama Sonal Shah has faced criticism in recent days for alleged ties to Hindu extremist polical parties. Here is a statement from Shah, as sent by Obama for America National AAPI Vote Director and APAP Board Member Charmaine Manansala, that refutes these claims: The following is a statement by Sonal Shah, Transition Board Member, for President-elect Barack Obama. "As an Indian-American who has lived in this country since the age of four, serving on the Obama-Biden transition team is a unique privilege for me. A presidential transition is always a time of excitement and, in some cases, of rumors and unfounded gossip. I'd like to set to rest a few baseless and silly reports that have been circulating on the Internet. First, my personal politics have nothing in common with the views espoused by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or any such organization. I've never been involved in Indian politics, and never intend to do so.