THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the war of words between the government and intensifies, this might turn out to be a double edged sword for LDF. Leaders of LDF immediately came with response for the words of NSS leadership which further fire up the situation.

Lashing out at the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, the Nair Service Society (NSS) alleged that the government was responsible for the violence in the state after two women in the menstrual age group entered the Lord Ayyappa temple violating its centuries-old tradition.

NSS General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair attacked the CPI(M)-led state government over the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, accusing it of making planned move to impose atheism on the people, and called upon all religious bodies to make peaceful efforts to protect their faith.

Noting that protecting the faith of any religious denomination is essential for existence of mankind, NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair, in a statement, said the Sabarimala issue was also linked with all religions and communities.

"No one should be allowed to demolish that faith," he said and urged the faithful and religious organisations to come forward to react peacefully against the government's move.

The influential outfit said the government has further complicated the Sabarimala issue which could have been resolved peacefully.

He accused the government of unnecessarily clamping prohibitory orders, jailing Ayyappa devotees, creating anarchy in the state, telling lies to justify their motives, humiliating Hindu acharyas and challenging and mocking at the devotees.

Faithful cannot be blamed for coming forward to protect their faith, Nair said and accused the government of giving political colour to their protest.

Several left leaders like Kanam Rajendran and Kadakampally Surendran have come to the fore with harsh criticism against NSS. The leaders are countering every word of NSS leadership in public. Even CM Pinarayi Vijayan countered Sukumaran Nair’s words criticizing women wall by reminding the renaissance history of NSS. He has also repeatedly said that the government won’t bow down to threats of any groups, which is an indirect jibe at the NSS.

The NSS had been opposing the entry of women in the menstrual age group into the temple right from the beginning and had impleaded in the Sabarimala issue in the Supreme Court.

Left leaders consider words of NSS leadership in close relationship with the words of K.P. Sasikala who declared that it’s time for second liberation movement. Left leadership is also aware that NSS could spread anti-government agenda amongst the people including the minority. NSS’s stand could further boost RSS and Hindu polarization. Kodiyeri’s words about Malayarayar and Ezhava community asking why stripping them off the rights to Sabarimala temple is not considered as violation of tradition, is aimed at NSS’s stand.