Suryanelli rape: Govt defends Kurien in House

The government on Tuesday came out in strong defence of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien, against attempts to drag his name in the Suryanelli case.

The government on Tuesday came out in strong defence of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien, against attempts to drag his name in the Suryanelli case.

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Kurien has been under attack from the CPM as well as BJP to some extent, in the rape case dating back to 1996.

While CPM walked out of the Rajya Sabha when parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath stood up to make a statement, defending Kurien, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said outside Parliament that the Congress leader should resign from the post on moral grounds.

"A controversy is being created after the recent Supreme Court judgement in what is known as the Suryanelli case. A section of the media and some political parties have sought to drag the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's name", Kamal Nath said.

"It is emphatically stated that Prof. Kurien has never been an accused in the case, which has been remanded by the Supreme Court to the Kerala HC for rehearing of the appeal", the minister said.

When the Minister rose to defend Kurien, CPI(M) members staged a walkout.