‘Can go to court’: Sukumaran Nair hits back as Ganesh Kumar targets NSS leadership in Kerala

The long-running differences between LDF leader and former minister K B Ganesh Kumar and the Nair Service Society (NSS) leadership have turned into an open public confrontation.

The latest exchange began on Tuesday, when Ganesh Kumar launched a strong attack on the NSS leadership at a book launch organised at Mannam Club in the Statue area of Thiruvananthapuram.

Kumar alleged that there was now "not even a little democracy" in the NSS and accused the organisation of being controlled by a few "parasites". He also made a series of personal and organisational criticisms aimed indirectly at NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair.

The remarks came after Kumar was removed from the NSS Kottarakkara taluk union president's post. He was later removed from the organisation's director board, while his primary membership was not renewed after the Pathanapuram taluk union, which he had led, was disbanded.

Kumar mimics Sukumaran Nair

During his speech, Kumar also mimicked the way Sukumaran Nair allegedly behaves when prominent people visit his office.

He used the imitation while criticising what he described as the attitude of the NSS leadership towards people holding important positions.

Kumar said a person holding a position must understand the importance of that office and remember who had occupied the chair before them.

Referring indirectly to Nair, he said people should not behave in a way that makes it appear that "any dog can sit on a golden throne".

He added that even if a person forgot that they were a dog, they should at least remember that they were sitting on a golden throne.

Allegations of nepotism

Kumar also alleged that the biggest form of corruption in the NSS was nepotism.

He claimed that one person had appointed 43 members of his own family.

Kumar questioned why the NSS had not established a medical college. He said it was not because the organisation lacked money, but alleged that there were not even people from the concerned person's family who were qualified for cleaning jobs at a medical college.

He also questioned why the NSS had not tried to establish an IT park to create employment opportunities for young men and women from the community.

Instead, he alleged, young people were being told to start tea shops. He added that prominent Nair leaders in Thiruvananthapuram were now running tea shops.

'Pride' and Mannam Samadhi row

Kumar also criticised the NSS leadership over access to Mannam Samadhi for prominent dignitaries.

He alleged that personal pride had led the leadership to prevent figures such as the Vice-President, the Chief Minister and Union ministers from paying their respects there.

The NSS leadership has given a different explanation. It said the restrictions were linked to security arrangements, particularly its objection to the use of sniffer dogs inside the sacred premises.

The organisation maintained that the decision was not based on political considerations.

Kumar also said it was a matter of pride for members of the Nair community to take part in struggles for Mannath Padmanabhan and Lord Ayyappa.

However, he questioned whether members of the community should take to the streets for what he called "parasites" within the organisation.

Sukumaran Nair responds

Sukumaran Nair responded to Kumar's allegations on Wednesday while speaking to the media in Changanassery.

Nair said he had no answer to Kumar's allegations and suggested that anyone who believed there was no democracy in the NSS could approach the courts.

"If there is no democracy, those who have complaints against it can file a case. Let them do that. I have nothing to say in response to what he says," Nair said.

Leader of socio-cultural and caste-based organization for the Nair community in Kerala also recalled Kumar's earlier comments about his own father.

Nair said Kumar had previously stated that his father had advised him to live by loving the NSS and its general secretary. He pointed out that Kumar had said he would follow that advice.

Nair questioned why Kumar was now taking a different position.

Nair says Kumar is backing NSS opponents

Nair alleged that some people were trying to destroy the NSS through legal cases.

He said cases had been taken to the lower courts, the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Nair alleged that Kumar was now speaking as a "tail" of those people and said they had acted together and attended a meeting.

When asked whether there was a conspiracy against him, Nair pointed to his 64 years of association with the NSS.

He said he had committed no wrongdoing that would allow anyone to plot against him.

Nair also challenged Kumar to approach the courts with his allegations.

"Ganesh can go to court. Why isn't he going to court? No one has been appointed illegally," Nair said.

Nair questions Kumar's changed position

Nair was also asked why Kumar, who had previously said he regarded him as a father figure, was now strongly criticising him.

Nair replied that Kumar may have now realised that he was no longer a father figure to him.

"He may now feel that I am not a father figure. That may be why he is criticising me," Nair said.

Nair has served the NSS for more than six decades and maintains that he reached his position through a democratic process without opposition.

He has also rejected allegations of illegal appointments.

Dispute follows Kumar's removal

The latest war of words follows a series of organisational changes involving Kumar.

He was removed from the NSS director board after the Pathanapuram taluk union he led was disbanded. His primary membership was also not renewed.

Kumar subsequently described the NSS as a private family estate and accused its leadership of corruption and nepotism.

He also raised allegations concerning a financial dispute with a private bank, claiming that accounts had been manipulated to protect a relative of the leadership.

Nair has rejected the allegations and said Kumar could seek legal remedies if he had evidence.