Denouncing attempts to create rift in the organisation from within and outside, the Nair Service Society (NSS) on Friday reiterated its commitment towards maintaining equal distance towards all political organisations.
In an apparent reference to LDF leaders Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kanam Rajendran and R. Balakrishna Pillai, NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair said the leaders of the two major parties and another leader who just found place in the LDF had been attempting to caste aspersions on the organisation.
“They should better understand the NSS’s base, and its organisational structure is strong enough to counter such attacks. The organisation has a long history of countering such attacks from outside,’’ Mr. Nair said in a statement here on Friday.
According to Mr. Nair, the position of the NSS on the entry of women in the 10-50 age group to Sabarimala temple has been consistent right from the beginning. ‘‘We are with the devotees on the issue and are going ahead with legal proceedings and peaceful protests. As far as we are concerned, there is no caste, religion and politics involved in the issue,” he said.
Reiterating his earlier position on the women’s wall programme, Mr. Nair said the decision of the NSS to distance itself from the State government-sponsored women’s wall was on the realisation that the programme was a part of the initiative to break the custom and tradition associated with the Sabarimala temple.
Regarding the Ayyappa Jyothi campaign, Mr. Nair said the NSS’s stance was that there was nothing wrong in devotees participating in the programme. ‘‘The NSS, however, did not formally participate in the programme,” he said.
