The Hindu : Front Page : Unity with SNDP is a closed chapter: NSS

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Sunday, Jun 25, 2006

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Unity with SNDP is a closed chapter: NSS

Staff Reporter

Narayana Panicker calls for steps to end confusion in the higher education sector

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KOTTAYAM: Assistant secretary of the Nair Service Society (NSS) G. Sukumaran Nair has said that the unity of the NSS and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam is a "closed chapter."

Speaking to mediapersons at Perunna on Saturday, he said the NSS had taken the initiative for such an arrangement in view of the challenges posed to the larger interests of the majority community. When allegations of corruption were raised against the Travancore Devaswom Board, those belonging to the majority community were pained and the NSS had taken the stance that the truth should be brought to light. As such, the NSS, in an official resolution, had called upon the then United Democratic Front Government to conduct an inquiry into the whole issue. However, in such a social issue, the SNDP had taken a stand opposing the NSS. Asked about their assessment of the functioning of the Left Democratic Front Government, NSS general secretary P. K. Narayana Panicker said it would be premature to make an assessment at this point of time. Mr. Panicker was speaking to mediapersons after presenting the NSS budget at Perunna.

He took exception to the Union Government's move to bring in 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes in higher education institutions. The move would make "merit" an object of ridicule in the face of `social justice,' he said. Mr. Panicker called upon the Government and managements of self-financing professional colleges to take necessary steps to defuse the continuing confusion in the higher education sector following the tabling of the new professional colleges Bill in the Assembly. The prevailing situation would affect the student community and their parents. The NSS leader expressed apprehension over the real intention of the managements and the State Government in precipitating the confusion over the minority status of some professional colleges.

``There is reason to believe that there is an effort to hoodwink the people on the part of the managements and the Government on the minority status issue,'' he said.

He took exception to what he termed the `dilution of the original commitment' to provide for 12 per cent reservation for the financially weaker sections among the so-called forward communities.

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