Suryanelli gang-rape case: Achuthanandan accuses UDF of trying to protect PJ Kurien

KOZHIKODE: Lashing out at the Congress-led UDF government, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan today alleged that the Kerala government was trying to protect Congress leader P J Kurien in the Suryanelli gang-rape case.

"The state government's approach is to protect Kurien in the case. It is condemnable," he told reporters here.

The victim has been repeating the same statement what she had said 17 years ago on the issue, the veteran CPI(M) leader said.

"The girl's mother has also written letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi on the issue. You (media) also might have read it," he said.

The Congress leader has all along rejected the charge and the demand for his resignation from the post of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, saying it was a matter which had already been cleared by the Supreme Court.

To a question on his next step after receiving the case diary relating to the 'Ice cream parlour' case, Achuthanandan said, "all necessary things will be done. I will go to the High Court and Supreme Court."

On senior CPI(M) leader M M Mani's controversial remarks at a public meeting in Kozhikode district that all attacks the party had carried out at Onchiyam were "part of CPI(M)'s resistance", he said such remarks were "unnecessary."

Marxist rebel leader T P Chandrasekharan was killed on May 4 last year at Onchiyam in the district.