CPI(M) members stage walkout in Rajya Sabha, say Kurien should defend himself
The government on Tuesday defended Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien, who has been under attack in connection with the Suryanelli rape case, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath saying that he had never been an accused in the case, which has been remanded by the Supreme Court to the Kerala High Court for rehearing of the appeal.
‘Being dragged into controversy’
“A section of the media and some political parties have sought to drag Rajya Sabha Deputy chairman Prof. Kurien’s name into this controversy. It is emphatically stated that Prof. Kurien has never been an accused in the case which is called the Suryanelli case, which has been remanded by the Supreme Court to the Kerala High Court for rehearing of the appeal,” he said in a statement made in the Rajya Sabha.
As the Minister rose to defend Mr. Kurien, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MPs staged a walkout with party leader Sitaram Yechury saying that Mr. Kurien should defend himself.
Undermining Constitution: Yechury
“Let him come and defend [himself]. We cannot accept that the executive defend the office of legislature and undermine the sanctity of the Constitution,” Mr. Yechury said.
Mr. Nath said he was making the statement on the directions of the Chair.
In his statement, Mr. Nath narrated the sequence of events in the 17-year-old case since the FIR was filed and how several police investigations had concluded that he was “not involved” and judicial processes had “discharged him of all charges”.
Earlier, the matter was raised by CPI(M) member Prasanta Chatterjee during the Question Hour, when Chairman Hamid Ansari ruled that the government will make a statement after lunch.
The Left parties have demanded Mr. Kurien’s resignation as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and said that he cannot preside over the discussion on the Criminal Law Ordinance to check crimes against women.
Keywords: P.J. Kurien, Suryanelli gang rape, Rajya Sabha, Budget session, Sitaram Yechury
Just because some Ministers and the Political party to which Kurien belongs,vehemently deny his involvement,it doesn't make him Jesus' Father,Uncle,Cousin or King.Let him be lined up for an
Identification Parade and let the victim pick him out or absolve him.Then the world will know.
If some one so close as Kurien to the first family is indicted, it is natural that all cabinet ministers will defend him. You can watch Kapil Sibal, Digviay Singh, Manish Tewari etc will be in line next to defend Kurien in the next few days.
Why Kurien is clinging to his post ? Is he not ashamed of rape charge ? Congress may support as it is a shameless party. The leaders should atleast show some value and remain clean
This is a mockery of justice. Indian justice system waits outside the door of the rich and powerful. Kurien got a favourable order from the supreme court exempting him from being investigated. There has been no police investigation even though it is mandatory in rape cases, and more than that this was raping of a minor. The girl is saying it was Kurien or a look alike, and it is odd that when the girl identified 42 people, that she wronged only in Kurien's case. Now that many of the witnesses have changed their statements, and that the supreme court directed High Court to take a new look on the case, Kurien's involvement is a fit case for re-inquiry.
Is it not best the politicians keep out of criminal investigations and cases!? Administering
justice is not their business and no one is above suspicion or above law. Such utterances in
the Parliament is uncalled for and prejudicial to the judicial system which should operate
independently without being bullied by the parliamentarians. Evidence is the basis of
prosecution and if there is evidence enough against the politician, he will be arrested and
prosecuted in the usual manner and any commentary of this manner is unacceptable to the
standards of behavior by people in this position.
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