State BJP leaders, who joined the clamour for Kurien's

resignation right from the day the victim reiterated her charge last week, said they were confident that the party's national leadership would not shield Kurien by taking a sharply divergent stand from that of Kerala unit. KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala affirmed that the party in Kerala was solidly behind Kurien who has been exonerated of the charge by the apex court. He dubbed the campaign unleashed by CPI(M) as a "mere political gimmick" as they are "devoid of other issues." "The state leadership sill remains solidly behind Kurien. Congress and UDF coalition will resist the campaign against him," Chennithala said in Kottayam. The case related to sexual exploitation of the girl from Suryanelli in Idukki district by different persons in January, 1996 after she was abducted and transported from place to place across Kerala and sexually exploited by different persons. Kurien's name figured again in connection with the case after the victim wrote to her advocate on January 29 to explore the possibility of filing a review petition, seeking a fresh probe against him. The victim's mother had yesterday petitioned Congress President Sonia Gandhi to ensure that Kurien does not chair the Rajya Sabha when the Bill on sexual violence against women comes up for debate. CPI(M) youth outfit DYFI today wrote to Vice-President Hamid Ansari to remove Kurien as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha before parliament begins its session later this month. Stating this at a press meet here, DYFI National President M B Rajesh, MP, said the youth outfit would hold a march to Parliament on February 21 if Kurien did not step down on his own or is removed from the post by his party by then.