NSS demands resignations of TDB members

Kochi, Nov 06

The Kerala Devaswom Board controversy has taken a new twist with the NSS demanding the resignation of the TDB members.

Mr G Sukumaran Nair, Assistant Secretary, NSS, said that since the TDB President and its members were allegedly under the shadow of corruption charges they should resign and face an independent inquiry.

Reacting to this demand Mr G Raman Nair, TDB President, who is also the nominee of the NSS, said that such a situation did not exist for him to resign. Respecting the government decision recruitments to the Board had been suspended. Somebody having no connection with the TDB alleged to have collected money by promising employment in the Board and this is being now raised as corruption, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the NSS General Secretary, Mr P K Narayana Panicker, has said that the allegations against the government that it was interfering in TDB affairs does not hold water. By accusing the Chief Minister and other ministers some are trying to raise a smoke screen and that will not succeed, he claimed.

In fact, the allegations against the Devaswom Minister emanated from the SNDP General Secretary, Mr Vellappally Natesan who claimed that he had documents to substantiate his charges.

Reacting on this the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy said that he would call for the documents.

He said that the government decision to stop recruitments to the TDB was taken on receipt of written complaints from the NSS against the appointments.

Even as the two major Hindu communities are sticking to their own stand in this issue and indirectly accuse each other, Mr Natesan said that the NSS-SNDP unity move is for social justice and hence the TDB controversy which is a “small issue” will not have anything to do with their unity efforts.