Oppn bandh call evokes mixed response in Puducherry

Shops and establishments remained closed in a number of centres in the union territory. While private buses were off the roads, government buses plied as usual and government offices also reported normal attendance.

Police pickets were posted at all vantage and vulnerable points in and around Puducherry, where prohibitory orders have already been clamped in the wake of the bandh for two days since yesterday.

The bandh is called by AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M), BSP, RSP and some other parties demanding that the Centre recall Singh.

Meanwhile, deputy secretary of CPI's local unit A Ramamoorthy said the opposition's memorandum demanding sacking of Singh had been faxed to President Pratibha Patil.

Singh had left last night for Delhi via Chennai after being questioned for two days by an
Enforcement Directorate team on the passport issue.

Singh is in the eye of a storm for his action as Congress Rajya Sabha member in 1997 in recommending expeditious issue of passport to Khan, a Pune based stud farm owner.