NSS General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair Criticizes Centre Over Pamba River Pollution and Sabarimala Neglect

KOTTAYAM: NSS General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair has launched a sharp criticism against the Central Government, questioning its inaction regarding the severe pollution of the sacred Pamba River and the unfulfilled promises related to Sabarimala development.

Speaking at a press conference in Kottayam, Sukumaran Nair expressed deep concern over the state of the Pamba River, a vital pilgrimage route for Ayyappa devotees. ‘The holy Pamba River is flowing in a polluted state; what has the Central Government actually done about it?’ he asked, highlighting the lack of effective intervention in cleaning and preserving the river. He further questioned, ‘Is it not in this polluted river that Ayyappa devotees immerse themselves? The Central Government has been in power for ten and a half years; what have they done?’

Sukumaran Nair also spoke about the sanctity of Sabarimala, stating that those who commit wrongs concerning the shrine will face dire consequences, and their families will only find ‘cleansing’ after atonement. He asserted that these worldly issues would not affect Sabarimala, as their faith dictates that Lord Ayyappan, residing there, controls everything, including the pursuit of justice.

Recalling past interactions, Sukumaran Nair recounted that when the NSS pursued legal action regarding Sabarimala, BJP members, who are in power at the Centre, ‘ran away.’ He challenged them, saying, ‘You are governing at the Centre, aren’t you? If you wished, couldn’t you have brought in a legal amendment to resolve the Sabarimala issue?’ He noted that the BJP had promised to do so but never followed through. ‘They also spoke of bringing in flights and trains to Sabarimala. Where are these trains and flights now? They cleaned up rivers in North India. But isn’t it sewage flowing through the sacred Pamba River? And aren’t Ayyappa devotees immersing themselves in it? The Centre has been in power for ten and a half years; what have they done?’ Sukumaran Nair declared that the NSS would cooperate if the government demonstrated genuine efforts.

He further sarcastically remarked that the proposed railway line from Chengannur to Pamba must be for individual homes, given the complete lack of progress on such infrastructure projects. ‘None of these promises materialized. Don’t they have absolute power now? Why didn’t they act? They claim to be the sole custodians of Hindu interests, but what have they done for Sabarimala?’ Sukumaran Nair questioned, urging accountability from the Central Government regarding these critical issues.