Kamal Nath to make a statement on rape allegations against Kurien in Rajya Sabha on Friday

New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath will on Friday make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the allegations levied against PJ Kurien in connection with the Suryanelli gangrape case. Nath met leaders of various political parties on Thursday to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget Session. During the meeting, Left told Nath that it wanted a discussion on Kurien issue and bank strike in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party came out in defence of the embattled Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman saying a two-decade-old case settled by courts cannot be raked up against a person. "A 17 or 20 years old case settled by the courts cannot be raked up against a person. Courts have said there is no case against him. He should not step down," SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said in Delhi on Thursday.

Yadav's defence came a day after Kurien wrote to Rajya Sabha MPs saying the case against him was untrue. Kurien's critics want his removal from the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for his alleged involvement in the Suryanelli rape case.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party said that a two-decade-old case settled by courts cannot be raked up against a person.

Stepping up pressure on Kurien, CPI(M) MP MB Rajesh on Thursday alleged that he was assaulted by policemen during a protest against Kurien in the national capital. Rajesh and three others, including another CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP TN Seema, filed the complaint in Parliament Street Police station.

Rajesh and his colleagues have claimed that when they marching towards Parliament House as part of the protest organised by DYFI, SFI and AIDWA, they were stopped near Rail Bhavan. The protesters tried to move ahead but were picked up by police. "We were taken into a police vehicle. I was pushed down and kicked inside the van. I was saved by protesters," Rajesh said.

He said four of them, including Seema, SFI National President V Sivadasan and injured JNU student Akhila, filed the complaint. Police assured them that they will look into the incident. Asked whether he will file a complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the CPI(M) MP said he will consult party leadership before writing to her.

A 16-year-old school girl from Suryanelli in Kerala was allegedly abducted and raped by 42 men for 40 days in 1996. The victim recently named Kurien as one of those who allegedly assaulted her.

(With additional information from PTI)

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