'John Brittas talked to Thiruvanchoor as per my direction', solar strike was carried out due to persistence of VS, says Cherian Philip

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cherian Philip has come out with an explanation regarding the revelations made by senior journalist John Mundakkayam on the events behind the settlement of the solar strike. Speaking to the media, Cherian Philip said that John Brittas, who is now a Rajya Sabha member, talked to then Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as per his direction. Cherian Philip also said that he had a close relationship with Thiruvanchoor and the matter was discussed when he went to Thiruvanchoor's house by chance.

"The solar strike was carried out due to the persistence of VS Achuthanandan. The Left Front and Thiruvanchoor were interested in settling the strike. Both groups wanted to make sure that the strike did not end up as a disaster. Hence, I made necessary interventions to settle the strike. CPM ranks were the most happy when the solar strike came to an end," Cherian Philip said.

Earlier today, John Brittas said that he had not approached John Mundakkayam to settle the solar strike. Brittas said that he had not discussed the solar strike with Mundakkayam and that the revelation made by Mundakkayam was only his imagination. Brittas was responding to the revelation made by John Mundakkayam in an article he wrote in the weekly 'Samakalika Malayalam'. In his article, Mundakkayam stated that John Brittas had called him to end the strike as per the instructions of the CPM leadership.