P.J. Kurien leading team to Vatican an insult: Suryanelli gangrape victim
The Suryanelli gangrape victim and her kin have said that Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien leading the Indian delegation to attend the investiture of Pope Francis was an insult for the family.
Kurien is a member of Mar Thoma Church, a non-Catholic Christian denomination in Kerala, while the woman belongs to the Catholic Church. Last month, Mar Thoma Church had put its weight behind Kurien, saying he is a precious son of the Church. While Kurien is moving from one Church function to another, the woman has stopped attending the Sunday Mass for two years, after some parishioners identified her as the Suryanelli victim.
“The government has insulted our family by allowing Kurien to attend the grand function at Vatican. We are angry and pained by the decision. At the same time, we are aware of our helplessness,” said the woman’s mother. The victim’s mother said Kurien attending a holy function is a challenge to their poor family, who can’t even go for the Sunday Mass at the local parish.
The woman and her mother on Monday petitioned Chief Minister Oommen Chandy seeking action on their earlier plea to probe into the role of P.J. Kurien in the case.
