The holy treasure worth `90,000 crores retrieved from the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple has triggered an unholy row even before the expert panel has completed its inventory and the Supreme Court has spoken its mind.
While one section of cultural leaders and organisations want the treasure to be used for the benefit of the public, others want it to remain temple property.
The veteran jurist, Mr V.R. Krishna Iyer, said the treasure should be handed over to a national trust and should be spent for the welfare of the poor in the country.
“This treasure is not for kings or Kuberas but for Kuchelas,” he said.
His feelings were echoed by the prominent social critic, Mr Sukumar Azhikode, who said that the wealth belonged to the nation and should be spent for poverty alleviation.
“Devotees don’t have any rights over the wealth though a part can be used for temple welfare,” he said.
However, the SNDP leader, Mr Vellappally Natesan, said the government had no right to the wealth which belonged to the Hindus.
“How come the government is not taking over the wealth in places of worship of other religions?” he asked.
The BJP too asserted that the treasure belonged to the temple and not to the royal family or the state government.
At the same time, Sree Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma, the head of the Travancore Royal family that runs the temple, was calm and unruffled when he encountered mediapersons on Sunday.
“I won’t say anything,” he said. “I will keep silent till the legal procedures are over. Whatever I have to say, you can read from my eyes.”