Kollam: In a powerful and emotionally charged address, Gokulam Gopalan, Chairman of the Sree Narayana Coordination Committee, launched a fierce attack against the controversial move to hand over Shankar’s Hospital — founded in the name of visionary leader R. Shankar — to an American corporation. Speaking at the launch of a protest movement in Kollam, Gopalan called the decision a “decades-long loot” in the name of healthcare and education, urging all Sree Narayana followers to unite in resistance.
He directly accused SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan and his associates of systematically dismantling institutions built on the ideals of R. Shankar, whom Gopalan described as a symbol of courage, determination, and service to the marginalized. “This isn’t just the sale of a hospital — it’s a betrayal of our community’s soul,” he warned.
Gopalan revealed that the hospital’s management rights are allegedly being secretly transferred to an American firm for a 99-year period, facilitated by a prominent Christian missionary group. He called it a deliberate and strategic effort to erase Shankar’s legacy and commercialize sacred public assets.
“If we fail to act now,” Gokulam cautioned, “we risk watching the entire Sree Narayana movement be auctioned off, one institution at a time.”
Warning against further provocation, he hinted at the possibility of a second Hindu Maha Mandalam agitation if the deal isn’t rolled back. “This soil carries the spirit of R. Shankar — we will not allow Vellappally or his gang to defile it,” he declared, challenging those behind the decision.
The protest was presided over by Protection Committee President D. Rajkumar Unni, with strong backing from various public figures including R. Maniyappan, South Indian Vinod, Kadakampally Manoj, P. Surendra Babu, Patra Raghavan, Prof. Susheela, Shine Padippurayil, Jans Nath, Subru Sahadevan, Indu Lekha, and D. Deepak.
