‘Talks began before siege commenced’

Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst a controversy ignited by allegations that LDF ended its Aug 2013 secretariat siege over the solar scam after secret discussions between the two warring fronts, Congress leader Cherian Philip said the negotiations to end the strike had begun even before the siege commenced.
In an interview with a Malayalam television channel, Philip said LDF laid siege on secretariat on August 12, 2013, while the talks to end the strike had begun on the evening of August 11.Philip said he and John Brittas had met the then home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to discuss ending the strike. “We discussed the issues faced by the govt due to the strike and we also pointed out the challenges faced by CPM during the strike. We all wanted to end the strike. However, John Brittas met CPM leaders only the next day to convey the details of the meeting,’’ said Philip.
RSP MP N K Premachandran, however, dismissed reports that he had mediated to end the Solar strike against the then UDF govt.
“It is natural that discussions will be held between rival parties to end the strike. There is nothing new in this. Nobody has ever made allegations of any underground dealings to end the strike,’’ he said.