PANDALAM: Pandalam Royal family member Sasi Kumar Varma has come out with clarification on certain statements made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the family and over their rights on Sabarimala.

“We had been urging the government for continuing the age-old tradition in Sabarimala since it is clearly stated in 1949 covenant that all traditions in Sabarimala temple should be followed,” he said.

To Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement that Sabarimala belongs to Devaswom board, Sasi Varma said that the temple belongs to devotees. The relationship between the palace and temple does not span 5 years as in the case of government and the State. “We are not for any compromise with the government over traditions and rituals. The Pandalam palace have never got an eye on the income of the temple. But there are some people who have an eye on the income. It is for the media to find out that.”

Varma said that the royal family had not asked for any money from the Devaswom board. “We have not asked for even a single penny from the crores of money that Devawom board collects through Sabarimala. What we get is only Rs 1000 as allowance for those who accompany Thiruvabharanam procession. We have asked for timely revision of the pay.”