Thiruvananthapuram: NSS General Secretary Sukumaran Nair said that Suresh Gopi cannot capture NSS the way he captured Thrissur. He added that Suresh Gopi’s visit to NSS headquarters at that time was driven by political motives. In 2015, Sukumaran Nair had expressed his displeasure when Suresh Gopi arrived at the NSS headquarters while a budget meeting was in progress—a reaction that became news. He was responding to questions on the issue.

Later, in 2019, Suresh Gopi again visited the NSS headquarters, met Sukumaran Nair, and sought his blessings. Ahead of the recent Lok Sabha elections as well, Suresh Gopi had visited the NSS headquarters and met Sukumaran Nair.

“Suresh Gopi had never set foot on this soil from the time of his birth until that visit. He came then with political intent. It was like VS Achuthanandan going to meet KK Rema. At that time, I was presenting the budget meeting. Security informed me that Suresh Gopi had arrived and wanted to offer a floral tribute. I told them to let him in. After a while, I saw him standing inside the hall—while I was speaking. What kind of behavior is that?” Sukumaran Nair asked.

“Would this happen anywhere else? When a meeting is in progress in the supreme body of an organisation that is presenting its budget, what does it mean to enter without asking anyone? The NSS cannot be captured the way Thrissur was,” he said.

He added that when Suresh Gopi came and stood in front of him, he told him this was not appropriate, after which Gopi left. On leaving, he said he would come later after calling. However, BJP leaders allegedly twisted the incident and said he had been stopped. Sukumaran Nair clarified that Suresh Gopi later visited twice without prior notice, and that he had received him on both occasions.