NSS chief reiterates claim of being denied meeting with Kerala CM Satheesan

Although Chief Minister VD Satheesan tried to downplay his differences with the Nair Service Society (NSS), its general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair reiterated his claim that he had been denied an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, July 15, Mr Nair said he would no longer seek an appointment with the Prime Minister and would instead explore other means to resolve the issue that led to his request. His response came shortly after Mr. Satheesan, speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, said he had already had a cordial meeting with the NSS leader.

Dismissing the Prime Minister’s statement, Mr Nair said he had sought an appointment through the Prime Minister’s private secretary to discuss a government file on a legal matter pending in a government department. “Despite the private secretary promising a call back, the Prime Minister contacted me only six days later. He neither inquired about the matter nor offered me time for a meeting,” Mr Nair said. He said he contacted the private secretary again two weeks later, but the situation did not change.

“The special secretary then told me that I could meet the Prime Minister when he comes to Ernakulam. Since the matter was related to a government file, I said that the meeting should be held at the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. There was no further communication after that,” he said.

Stating that he would not pursue the matter further, Mr. Nair said that he had sought an appointment from the Prime Minister’s Office and not from Mr. Satheesan personally. NSS had never faced such an experience with previous Prime Ministers.

“When you call Pinarayi Vijayan, he answers the phone if he is free, sends a message if he is busy, and calls back later when he is available,” he said.

Mr. Nair also criticized Union Minister Suresh Gopi and alleged that his visit to the NSS headquarters on the day of the Aruvikkara by-election was politically motivated.

“Suresh Gopi came here on the day of Aruvikkara elections. The visit had a political purpose. It was aimed at creating the impression that NSS was close to the BJP. We allowed him to offer flowers at Mannam’s memorial. He later entered the venue where the Budget session was held,” he said.

Mr. Nair also stated that Mr. Gopi should “put his own house in order” by first resolving issues within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

Contrasting with other constitutional functionaries, Mr. Nair said the NSS had warmly welcomed former West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan during their visit.