CHENNAI: Zoho Corp founder and chief executive Sridhar Vembu will share his expertise in rural job creation at an event organised by right-wing organisation RSS, the company said in a statement on Friday.
The technology entrepreneur, and an Accenture top executive, had come under fire on Twitter early this week after a digital poster announced them as guests at an RSS event in Chennai in February. Twitter users called for boycott of products for their association with RSS, a sentiment more pronounced amid the recent controversial legislation amending the Citizenship Act and ensuing student protests.
Vembu had responded with a blunt assertion that his views and choice of events are ring-fenced from Twitter influences. Accenture senior executive Rama S Ramachandran has responded to the poster saying he never agreed to be a part of the event.
In a statement released on Monday, Zoho threw more light on the event: “Creating jobs in rural areas, a pressing priority in India, is a subject Sridhar is passionate about. As a result, Zoho has been creating high paying jobs in rural communities. Sridhar had agreed to share his expertise and experience at a forum focused on this topic. There was nothing more to it.”
Amid the din criticising Vembu for his stand, there were voices of support too.
Anand Lunia, founding partner at early stage investor India Quotient, came out in Vembu's defence: "Let's see who from the startup world has the honesty to stand up for the FoE [Freedom of Expression] of @svembu. I do. Plus we don't bring all this into our startup world. We are not Silicon Valley." TVS Capital chief Gopal Srinivasan had urged people to “stand up for what we believe in and stand firm for India,” adding that he would be “honoured” to be in the audiences at the RSS event.
Zoho had repurposed an old mango pulp factory in Tenkasi, southern Tamil Nadu, and built a technology centre from where Zoho products are built, besides it large offices near Chennai. In the US, Zoho has swooped in on Austin, Texas, choosing the city for its immigrant-friendly vibe and proximity to technology talent.
The technology entrepreneur, and an Accenture top executive, had come under fire on Twitter early this week after a digital poster announced them as guests at an RSS event in Chennai in February. Twitter users called for boycott of products for their association with RSS, a sentiment more pronounced amid the recent controversial legislation amending the Citizenship Act and ensuing student protests.
Vembu had responded with a blunt assertion that his views and choice of events are ring-fenced from Twitter influences. Accenture senior executive Rama S Ramachandran has responded to the poster saying he never agreed to be a part of the event.
In a statement released on Monday, Zoho threw more light on the event: “Creating jobs in rural areas, a pressing priority in India, is a subject Sridhar is passionate about. As a result, Zoho has been creating high paying jobs in rural communities. Sridhar had agreed to share his expertise and experience at a forum focused on this topic. There was nothing more to it.”
Amid the din criticising Vembu for his stand, there were voices of support too.
Anand Lunia, founding partner at early stage investor India Quotient, came out in Vembu's defence: "Let's see who from the startup world has the honesty to stand up for the FoE [Freedom of Expression] of @svembu. I do. Plus we don't bring all this into our startup world. We are not Silicon Valley." TVS Capital chief Gopal Srinivasan had urged people to “stand up for what we believe in and stand firm for India,” adding that he would be “honoured” to be in the audiences at the RSS event.
Zoho had repurposed an old mango pulp factory in Tenkasi, southern Tamil Nadu, and built a technology centre from where Zoho products are built, besides it large offices near Chennai. In the US, Zoho has swooped in on Austin, Texas, choosing the city for its immigrant-friendly vibe and proximity to technology talent.
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