Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 11 -- Kerala Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress over the arrest of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil by the Crime Branch in connection with a rape case, alleging that the party's top leadership was shielding him despite serious allegations.

Calling the matter "extremely serious", Sivankutty said the allegations against Mamkootathil were of a nature "very rarely seen in the country". "There is a clear understanding between the top leadership of the Congress and Rahul. Otherwise, why is Congress not insisting on Rahul's resignation? Congress workers are still participating in Rahul's programmes. It is the Congress that is giving him protection," the minister told ANI.

Sivankutty ...