Nair service society clarifies stance on Global Ayyappa meet

KOTTAYAM: The Nair Service Society (NSS) has made it clear that they have not given any unconditional support for the Global Ayyappa meet. The NSS General Secretary, G Sukumaran Nair, in a press note on Saturday, said that it is good if the global meet envisages the implementation of development activities in Sabarimala without affecting the customs and traditions of the temple and by protecting the sanctity of the temple.

He also demanded that the leadership of the committee that will be formed for this should be purely Ayyappa devotees and those without any political links. Only then could the result aimed for from this meet be achieved, he said. He also said that the NSS had to give an explanation as various views supporting and criticising the stand of the NSS are coming up.The Nair Service Society (NSS) top leadership was keeping silent on the official stance of the NSS regarding the Global Ayyappa meet, after one of its senior leaders jumped the gun by extending full support for the meet.

NSS Vice President Sangeeth Kumar came out in support of the meet and expressed confidence in the LDF govt in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Sources close to the NSS leadership said that Kumar expressed his view in the capacity of being a leader of the Akhila Bharath Ayyappa Seva Sangam rather than as an NSS representative.Sources close to the leadership said that Devaswom minister V N Vasavan and TDB President PS Prashanth called on the NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair at the latter's office in Perunna in Changanassery a few days ago. In a meeting that lasted around 30 minutes, the two assured Nair that the customs and traditions of the hill shrine would be protected.The NSS is also not happy with the govt for not quashing the cases registered against those who took part in the Namajapa yatra during the Sabarimala agitation.