CHANGANASSERY: NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said politically the equidistant theory is still followed and had never criticized the actions of the government or the controversy surrounding it. Those who raise the issue should state which of the three issues raised by the NSS is political. In his reply to the chief minister, the NSS said that those who think that they can intimidate the NSS or its leadership are in a fool’s paradise.

The NSS raised three issues to the government and there are no politics in these three demands. The first was to take a stand in favour of the devotees related to women entry in Sabarimala. Everyone knows where the Sabarimala issue stands now. The second demand is that the 10 % economic reservation passed by the central government through the constitutional amendment should be implemented in Kerala as well. Kerala approved the report of the commission on the implementation of economic reservation in Kerala on January 3 in 2020. Although the government claimed to have received financial reservation, no one has so far benefitted as the forward community list has not been published.

The third thing is about Mannam Jayanti Day. Mannam Jayanti which falls on January 2 should be considered as holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act. The NSS alleged that even after approaching the government several times, it was rejected.