Chandy Oommen defends NSS chief Sukumaran Nair amid criticism

Congress MLA Chandy Oommen on Tuesday praised Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair, calling him an “asset” to Keralam.

Mr. Oommen’s remarks follow sharp criticism directed at Mr. Nair by Kerala Congress (B) leader K.B. Ganesh Kumar.

Mr. Oommen termed the attempts to insult Mr. Nair “extremely vile”.

Defending Mr. Nair’s public conduct, he said, “Each person has his or her own style. It is not right to distort that style and portray it differently.”

Mr. Oommen said to journalists that Mr. Nair was “one of the most important personalities in Keralam’s public life” and described him as an “asset to Keralam”.

Mr. Ganesh Kumar had raised allegations regarding the internal management of NSS and questioned appointments and financial transactions. He had said he would not initiate legal proceedings against Mr. Nair but would present his allegations before the “people’s court”.

He alleged that Mr. Nair’s relatives had been appointed to key positions in various NSS-run institutions.

Mr. Ganesh Kumar also questioned certain financial transactions involving a bank and the present ownership of a college in Tamil Nadu that was earlier owned by the NSS.

He further alleged that Mr. Nair had “acted against democratic norms” by dissolving the NSS Pathanapuram Taluk Union. It he headed, despite claiming the support of a majority of its members.

Mr. Nair had earlier said Mr. Ganesh Kumar should pursue legal means if he had objections to the functioning of the NSS.