Thiruvananthapuram: Former minister K B Ganesh Kumar launched a veiled attack on Nair Service Society (NSS) brass over what he described as authoritarian tendencies. He also defended chief minister V D Satheesan over allegations by NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair that CM insulted the organisation.Speaking to reporters after attending a function at Kunnicode in Kollam on Sunday, Kumar said he never saw Satheesan insult NSS or any community. “I know Satheesan personally. Such criticism against him is not justified,” he said.Without directly naming Nair, Kumar warned that “dictators ultimately fall,” saying history showed that authoritarian leaders couldn’t survive. Although he later clarified that he had not specifically referred to NSS brass, he added that organisations should function with greater warmth and courtesy rather than intimidation.Kumar, who recently failed to secure re-election to NSS board of directors, said the organisation should allow public access to the samadhi mandiram of its founder, Mannathu Padmanabhan, at NSS headquarters in Perunna, Kottayam.Stating that Padmanabhan was a public figure revered beyond the Nair community, he said devotees should be allowed to offer floral tributes during designated visiting hours, as is the practice at Sree Narayana Guru’s samadhi at Sivagiri.“Mannathu Acharya is not anyone’s private property. Children should learn about his life, and everyone who respects him should have the opportunity to pay homage,” Kumar said.His remarks come amid an ongoing controversy involving NSS brass and Union minister Suresh Gopi, who recently criticised developments at the organisation’s headquarters. Nair responded by accusing Gopi of making politically motivated remarks.Kumar said he was unaware of specifics of the dispute between Gopi and NSS brass, but he maintained that there was no place for intimidation within community organisations. He said community organisations such as NSS and SNDP should recognise and encourage affiliated associations functioning outside Kerala for their social service activities.
