CM Satheesan to inaugurate NSS’s Mannam Jayanthi celebrations at Perunna; Sukumaran Nair says ‘misunderstandings settled’

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will inaugurate the Mannam Jayanthi celebrations organised by the Nair Service Society (NSS) at its headquarters at Perunna in Kottayam in January, in what will be his first visit to the organisation's headquarters after assuming office.

Mannam Jayanthi is celebrated on January 1 and 2 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of NSS founder Mannathu Padmanabhan.

The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of differences between Mr. Satheesan and NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair which had surfaced over various issues.

The NSS represents the influential Nair community in Keralam.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Nair said the Chief Minister had been invited over the phone to inaugurate the celebrations. A formal letter was also sent to him, and the Chief Minister had responded positively to the invitation, he said.

"We invited him over the phone. A letter was also sent, and he has replied expressing his willingness to attend the event. The programmes are being finalised," Mr. Nair said.

He said if Mr. Satheesan wants to visit the samadhi of Mannathu Padmanabhan during his visit to the NSS headquarters, arrangements will be made for it.

Asked about differences between the NSS leadership and the Chief Minister, Mr. Nair said the issues had been discussed between them and that the earlier “misunderstandings had been settled.”

"We had a conversation between us. The circumstances that led to the earlier differences have been understood. Those issues have been settled," he said.

Regarding Mr. Satheesan's earlier statement that he would not approach community organisations seeking their support, Mr. Nair said the Chief Minister had explained the circumstances that led him to make such a remark.

"He explained the circumstances under which he made that statement. We understood the situation and the reasons behind it," Mr. Nair said.

On the NSS position on economic reservation, Mr. Nair said the organisation had consistently maintained that economically weaker sections among both backward and forward communities should receive consideration.

"We have maintained that economically weaker sections among backward and forward communities should be given consideration. That is what we have been demanding," he said.

He clarified that the position was not adopted in support of any particular government or chief minister but was based on a stand taken by the organisation during the time of its founder, Mannathu Padmanabhan, in 1950.

"This is not a position taken in support of any particular chief minister. It is a stand adopted by the organisation during the time of Mannathu Padmanabhan in 1950, and we continue to uphold it," Mr. Nair said.

He added that the NSS had not submitted any fresh demand in writing to either the state or the Central government in this regard.

Asked about community leaders recommending names for appointments to the personal staff of Ministers, Mr. Nair denied that the NSS had made any such requests.

"We have not suggested even a single person's name for appointment to the personal staff of any Minister," he said.

The NSS general secretary also addressed the exchanges between BJP leaders and the organisation, maintaining that the NSS had its own established positions and that its stand on various issues should be understood in that context.

On the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mannathu Padmanabhan, Mr. Nair said the NSS was planning various programmes, including conferences and commemorative events.

"We are planning conferences and celebrations as part of the 150th birth anniversary programmes. We are giving particular importance to construction-related activities," he said.

The organisation was also preparing the programme schedule to mark the anniversary, he added.