While confusion reigns even today about what this town should be called, ‘Puducherry’ or ‘Pondicherry’ in government communication, the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) is offering netizens a third option. The PRTC’s website, which was launched in September last year, has three options if one wants to travel to or from this town. Opening the website redirects one to a busindia.com page and the following options are offered: ‘Puducherry,’ ‘Pondicherry’ and ‘Pondichery’, similar to ‘Pondichéry,’ the French spelling of this former colony.
Tourism Minister P. Rajavelu was not prepared to commit himself while responding to reporters who quizzed him on the recent developments at Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Mr. Rajavelu, who addressed a press conference in his chamber, was virtually at his wit’s end when some reporters wanted to know the government’s stand on the Ashram issue. The Minister, at one point, appeared to be on the verge of giving a reply.
However, when one of his staff rushed and murmured something into his ears, he exercised caution.
As if on cue, the Minister changed the topic. Soon enough, he excused himself for winding up the press conference stating that he had an official function to attend and had to rush to get there before ‘rahu kalam’ (inauspicious time).
While several political leaders are in the habit of criticising the government and the police for alleged failure in maintaining law and order, estranged Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P. Kannan praised Inspector-General of Police Praveer Ranjan for more than one reason.
While holding a press conference recently, Mr. Kannan said that following a massive rally conducted by his supporters a few days ago against the poor law and order situation in the Union Territory, the authorities had started taking steps to check the deteriorating situation.
He said the IG had taken serious efforts and the results were getting evident.
“It seems that IG is a good person and sincere officer,” Mr. Kannan added.
