Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarifies BJP’s stand on NSS, Sabarimala row

Thiruvananthapuram, July 13 (IANS) Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that the party had taken a stand against Nair Service Society (NSS) General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair, asserting that the BJP had never interfered in the internal affairs of community organisations and would never do so.

The Nair Service Society (NSS) is one of Kerala’s most influential socio-cultural organisations, representing the Hindu Nair community and wielding considerable social and political influence in the State.

Rajeev described selective media reports of a rift between the BJP and the NSS leadership as false and factually incorrect.

The BJP, he said, held both the organisation and its General Secretary in high esteem.

Recalling his own association with the veteran NSS leader, Rajeev said Sukumaran Nair had extended him every support after he assumed charge as the party’s Kerala president and that the two shared a close personal relationship.

“As the party governing the country, the BJP approaches the NSS and its leadership with responsibility and respect,” he said, adding that the organisation’s efforts for the welfare of lakhs of members of the Nair community were widely recognised.

Rajeev also sought to distance the BJP from the ongoing controversy over the appointment of the Sabarimala Thantri, saying the issue was not a political one and that the party had limitations in expressing an opinion on matters relating to tantric succession.

If any BJP functionary had commented publicly on the issue, those remarks reflected only personal views and not the party’s official position, he said.

Turning to the larger Sabarimala controversy, Rajeev alleged that while the Thantri, who had no administrative responsibilities at the hill shrine, was in jail, ministers who exercised control over temple administration remained outside.

He accused the UDF government of shielding the Left leadership in the case and said the BJP, along with devotees, would continue its democratic struggle to protect the temple’s traditions, customs and rituals.

–IANS

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