March to NSS headquarters seeks Sukumaran Nair’s exit

A group of Nair community members took out a protest march to the headquarters of the Nair Service Society (NSS) at Perunna, Changanassery, on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of the organisation.

The demonstration, held under the banner of ‘Mochanayathra,’ was organised by an Aluva-based NSS Karma Samithi.

Around 20 people participated in the march, which was stopped by the police near NSS Hindu College. When the authorities denied the protesters’ request to offer floral tributes at the Mannathu Padmanabhan memorial located inside the NSS headquarters, they performed the ritual on the road in front of the community leader’s portrait.

Earlier, the Changanassery town had witnessed some chaotic scenes when a few individuals tried to block the protest march by the dissidents. The police intervened and removed them, allowing the demonstration to continue.

Triggers dissent

The protest comes in the wake of the community organisation’s decision to extend support to the Left Democratic Front government in organising the Global Ayyappa Sangamam last month, which had triggered dissent within the Nair community at the grassroots level.

The NSS, however, has remained unfazed and described the mounting criticism against Mr. Nair as ‘deliberate attempts’ to malign the organisation for its firm stance in safeguarding the religious beliefs of Hindus.