NSS reiterates position, lashes out at attempts to malign it

M

Amidst reports of protests at the grassroots, the Nair Service Society’s (NSS) on Thursday reiterated its current stance on Sabarimala with its general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair hitting out at `deliberate attempts’ to malign the organisation for its firm position in safeguarding the religious beliefs of the Hindu community.

Speaking while inaugurating the Vijayadashami Nair meet organised by the NSS Changanassery taluk union at Perunna, Mr. Nair asserted that the organisation would continue to maintain an `equal distance’ from all political parties. At the same time, he clarified that the NSS had adopted a `right distance’ in the Sabarimala issue.

“Those in power at the Centre could have acted on the Sabarimala matter, but they did nothing,” he said. He, at the same time, also pointed out that the past couple of years, the pilgrimage has been conducted strictly in line with customs, rituals and traditions.

Mr. Nair recalled that when Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan approached him regarding a global meet of Ayyappa devotees, the NSS extended conditional support on the clear understanding that customs and rituals would be upheld and that the event would remain apolitical. “But there were attempts to politicise it. The NSS has no links with politics and maintains equal distance from all parties. It is in this context that we chose the ‘right distance’ to ensure the protection of religious faith,” he explained.

Lashing out at a section of the visual media for what he described as a smear campaign, Mr. Nair said attacks directed at the leadership of an organisation were ultimately intended to weaken the organisation itself. “Their intention was to discredit both the NSS and the community it represents, which is why its general secretary was deliberately targeted. It is suspected that certain individuals colluded with media houses to launch this attack,” he alleged.

Issuing a stern warning against attempts to politically align the NSS, he reiterated that the organisation would not be tied to any party. “We have never made demands of any government, at either the Centre or the State. If anyone claims otherwise, let them prove it. The NSS will support any government that acts in good faith and will oppose any government that engages in wrongdoing,” added Mr.Nair.