Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair has reaffirmed that the organisation will maintain its policy of equidistance from all political parties.
“We neither practise politics nor harbour any animosity towards it,’’ Mr. Nair told reporters at the NSS headquarters at Perunna during the Mannam Jayanti celebrations on Friday.
Referring to the Sabarimala issue, he said the NSS had consistently followed a policy of maintaining the ‘right distance’ and stressed that there was no need to politicise the matter.
Addressing a Nair delegates’ meet on Thursday, Mr. Nair had said that the NSS would not allow itself to be used for political gain. He clarified that the organisation’s decision to send a representative to the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, organised by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, stemmed from its moral responsibility to protect the custom and rituals of Sabarimala.
The 149th Mannam Jayanti celebrations were inaugurated by Cyriac Thomas, former member of the National Minority Commission and former Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University. In his address, Mr. Thomas pointed to what he described as an organised attempt to undermine Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and urged the NSS to take the lead in countering this trend.
“Mannam Samadhi is the most appropriate venue to raise such a call. The NSS cannot remain silent when Gandhiji’s influence is being deliberately obscured. If the NSS can spearhead another ‘liberation struggle’ to restore Gandhiji’s ideals to the political sphere, not only Kerala but the entire nation will remain indebted to the organisation,” he said. He also highlighted the community organisation’s role in safeguarding the custom and rituals of Sabarimala.
“The breach of rituals at Sabarimala took place with the knowledge and indirect support of the government. The NSS led protests against this by organising prayer processions, even without convening a prior meeting,” Mr. Thomas added.
NSS president M. Sasikumar presided over the function. Writer Rajeev Alunkal delivered the Mannam Jayanti commemorative address. Mr. Sukumaran Nair welcomed the gathering, while NSS treasurer M.V. Ayyappan Pillai proposed a vote of thanks. Leaders from the United Democratic Front (UDF), the LDF and the BJP, along with MPs, MLAs, prominent personalities and NSS office-bearers at various levels, attended the event.
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