Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair revealed on Thursday that Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala had informed him that his (Mr. Chennithala’s) telephone was being tapped by the State Home Department.
Briefing mediapersons at the NSS headquarters at Perunna after a conclave of director board members, taluk union presidents, vice presidents, and secretaries, Mr. Nair said he had not taken it in its seriousness at that time. “Only when my telephone was tapped did I recognise the seriousness,” he added.
On Deputy CM post
Reacting to a question, the NSS chief said the Indian Union Muslim League’s demand for Deputy Chief Minister post would remind one of its earlier demand for a fifth berth in the State Cabinet.
The NSS is very clear about who should get the post. But it is not naming anyone since it would be dubbed ‘communalism,’ Mr. Nair said.
Mounting a scathing attack on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Mr. Nair said the only person who could untangle the present imbroglio was the Chief Minister himself. “If he wished so, Mr. Chandy can resolve the issues in five minutes,” the NSS chief said.
Holding Mr. Chandy responsible for the ‘fall’ of former Chief Ministers K. Karunakaran and A.K. Antony, Mr. Nair said that now the same person is after Mr. Chennithala’s blood.
“But we cannot turn a blind eye when the interests of the majority community are treated with contempt,” Mr. Nair said.
The NSS general secretary said 12 of the legislators owed their victory to the organisation. It is time for their introspection, he added. To a question, Mr. Nair said the NSS was not interested in having MLAs or MPs, but its position regarding political parties would influence poll outcomes. The NSS is one of the major influences in deciding as to who should come to power in the State, he added.
Mr. Nair admitted that the NSS had made its mind clear on the issue of a Cabinet berth for V.S. Sivakumar. ‘‘We did it because it was his chance for Rajya Sabha membership that was denied for the sake of A.K. Antony.’’ It has nothing to do with K. Muraleedharan or any other persons, he said.
