CHENGANNUR: Pandalam Palace Executive Committee President Sasi Kumara Varma has said the recent Sabarimala pilgrim season was depressing. The authorities didn’t see Ayyappa devotees even as Indian citizens. Police action this time was the one that created fear in the minds of the people.

“Had there been no youths who were ready to sacrifice anything for protecting Sabarimala traditions, breach of traditions in Sabarimala temple would have continued.

We have never-ending obligation to these youths who reached to save Ayyappa Dharma. The palace is always with devotees. There will not be any change in this stand. We are not ready for any compromise in the case of traditions and customs in Sabarimala,” he said.

Varma told Kerala Kaumudi that the palace was ready for talks with anyone on the Sabarimala issue but the rumour that such talks would be for changing old traditions of Sabarimala is false.