CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has demanded that the Nair Service Society (NSS) change its stand on the Sabarimala women entry issue.
He told the media here on Sunday that the NSS position was against the spirit of renaissance values upheld by Mannath Padmanabhan, who founded the organisation.
He said that it was leaders such as Padmanabhan who took forward the ideals of social reformer Chattambi Swamikal by organising a march of the upper caste Hindus seeking permission for temple entry for the lower castes. It seemed that G. Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of the NSS, had been overwhelmed by emotions influenced by [religious] beliefs.
Mr. Balakrishnan’s remarks came against the backdrop of Mr. Nair toughening his stand against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over the agitation against entry of women of all age groups to the hill shrine following a Supreme Court verdict. He had accused the government of promoting atheism and pseudo-secularism. Mr. Nair had alleged that genuine devotees who participated in ‘namajapam’ had been arrested in a bid to demoralise them.
However, Mr. Balakrishnan clarified that the police had not registered cases against anyone for participating in the ‘namajapa ghoshayatra’ [organised by Ayyappa devotees]. “The government does not have an intention to harass anyone. However, those involved in criminal activities and violence in the name of ‘namajapam’ will not be spared,” the CPI(M) leader said.
Mr. Balakrishnan expressed the hope that the NSS would not fall into the trap set by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the Sabarimala issue. He pointed out that if the NSS decided to join hands with the RSS, the latter would swallow that organisation. The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam was aware of this and that was why its leader, Vellappally Natesan, was not toeing the RSS line on the issue, he said.
The CPI(M) leader condemned the remarks of BJP president Amit Shah that the State government would be brought down if it did not stand with the devotees, claiming that the government here was not at the mercy of the BJP.
