NEW DELHI: John Brittas MP reacted to senior journalist John Mundakayam's revelation that he had acted as an intermediary to settle the solar case. John Brittas, while talking to the press said that only what John Mundakayam said is half true. Brittas added that Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan contacted him and the revelation that surfaced now is an imagination of Mundakkayam.
'Thiruvanchoor contacted me to end the strike. He was the home minister then. He contacted me from the phone of Cherian Philip, one of the most important leaders in the Congress today. Thiruvanchoor called me from Cherian Philip's phone when I was in the office of Kairali TV. Thiruvanchoor said that the government is ready for a compromise and is ready to accept the demands of the opposition and asked him to inform them if there are any suggestions.
He demanded to inform this to the CPM leadership. Apart from that, I have neither called John Mundakkayam nor Thiruvanchoor. Cherian Philip is a living eyewitness to this. He may also be a close friend of Mundakayam. The media can directly call Cherian Phillip and enquire. The call list of that day will give you accurate information,' said John Brittas.
'I don't know from where John Mundakkayam got this story. Half of what he said is true. He should be congratulated for telling at least half the truth,' said Brittas. Meantime, John Mundakkayam’s revelation is in an article written in the weekly Samakalika Malayalam. He revealed that John Brittas had called him to end the strike as per the instructions of the CPM leadership. John Mundakayam said that Brittas called him and said that needn’t we end the strike somehow.
Understood that Brittas' call was as per instructions from the top leadership. The article said, the next question of Brittas was whether he could inform Oommen Chandy, who was the chief minister then, that he was ready to call off the strike if he immediately held a press meet and announce a judicial inquiry. The party was aware of this move but neither leaders including Thomas Isaac nor the activists who came for the strike, knew about it. John Mundakayam said in the article that he mediated in the settlement negotiations.