Kerala Hindus totally insecure and have few options, say Sukumaran Nair and Vellappally

Hindus in Kerala are feeling totally insecure and the state government seems to care about minorities only, says NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair and SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.

After The second round of talks between NSS and SNDP held at NSS headquarters Changanassery on April 26, both leaders said the situation is fast deteriorating for Hindus in Kerala and the only option for them is mass exodus. Though a bit exaggerated, the words of Nair-Ezhava leaders are basically true. Hindus seem to be at the receiving in the state.

In Kerala the needs of only minorities are taken care of and government is neglecting even the fair demands of majority Hindus, said Vellappally and Nair. Vellappally said majority community is not getting justice and Nair-Ezhava communities won’t hesitate to take a joint political stand if the situation warrants. Nair said NSS will discard its policy of equi-distance from political parties if situation demands.

Both leaders said Nair-Ezhava unity has the potential to change the political scene in Kerala and politicians should remember this. Answering criticisms of political leaders in the state that Nair-Ezhava unity and the idea of Hindu unity is leading to communal polarization in Kerala, Sukumaran Nair said it was political parties which neglected them forcing them to unite.

Broad Hindu unity

Nair and Vellappally said Nair-Ezhava unity in the state has been cemented and now the stage is set for a broad Hindu unity in the state. Nair-Ezhava unity which was considered difficult earlier has become total now, said both leaders. This proves that Hindu unity is not an Utopian idea, said both. NSS does not have any opposition for continuing reservation to backward communities and Scheduled caste and tribe Hindus, said Nair. He said NSS and SNDP are aware of the moves to destroy unity of Hindus and such moves won’t succeed.

Nair  said Kerala is being ruled by a ministry supported mainly by minorities and added that their effort was to get the same benefits to majority also. Both said they are not against minorities in the state and minorities should not develop any apprehensions about Hindu unity.

Both leaders held a closed door discussion for about an hour before calling a joint press conference. They said they will decide later whether to form a new political party or not.

Significance 

The latest announcement of NSS and SNDP leaders have significance as it is the first time that they used the word Hindu for majority community. While emphasising Nair-Ezhava unity both leaders used the term majority community earlier.This gives a hint about their future moves. Their announcement of a joint political stand is also significant  as earlier unity moves were always projected as apolitical. It seems that both Nair and Vellappally have realised that unity moves have social acceptance and they can move forward with it.

Creamy layer issue not a concern for Nairs; We want reservation benefits to those who are not getting it now: NSS Gen Secretary

Nair Service Society general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair has said that the issue of fixing creamy layer for other backward communities in India for job reservation is an internal issue of OBCs and NSS does not want to comment on it. Nair added that what NSS is not against giving reservation to backward caste Hindus but also want job reservation to those forward castes who are not getting it.

Sukumaran Nair was responding to questions of Media at NSS headquarters, Kottayam on Saturday, March 16 in the wake of a decision of a sub committee of union cabinet fixing an income level of Rs six lakh per annum as the income limit for OBCs to get job reservation. This means those of OBCs who have an income level exceeding Rs 6 lakh per annum won't be able to get the benefits of reservation.

NSS-SNDP sort out differences on job reservation

Sukumaran Nair's stand on reservation marks a new attitude of the NSS. This comes in the wake of Hindu unity moves in Kerala. The issue of job reservation for Hindu OBCs was the stumbling block against unity of forward caste Nair community and backward caste Ezhava community in Kerala. Nairs and Ezhavas together constitute around 80 per cent of Hindu population in Kerala. Hindus constitute around 55 per cent of total population in Kerala

Earlier NSS had opposed raising income limit of OBCs for getting reservation. NSS had filed a case in the Supreme Court against raising the income limit. But following NSS-SNDP unity move NSS withdrew the case. In return SNDP had declared that it was not against giving certain percentage of reservation for the poor among forward communities.

Sukumaran Nair's stand seems to be logical otherwise also as Creamy layer is a yardstick for ensuring that all members of OBCs get the benefit of reservation and not the rich OBCs only. The court implemented creamy layer as it found that reservation benefits are normally cornered by the rich in OBCs who have the money and power to give good education to their children. The poor who cannot afford it normally fail to qualify.

But according to Creamy layer concept, if no eligible candidate is found the seat should remain vacant till an eligible candidate from OBC is found. That means the post won't go to general candidate even if no eligible candidate is found. 

In this context why Nairs bother about it. It is not the responsibility of Nairs to ensure that income limit fixed for getting reservation is not very high. What is our concern whether a rich or a poor OBC gets reservation benefits. It is not the duty of NSS to ensure equality among OBCs. Let them settle it among themselves. 

What Nairs need is reservation for poor Nairs. Such benefits should be accorded to poor among those communities which are not getting reservation benefits now. This is NSS stand, says Nair.