Lower castes welcome Ponnuswamy as junior oil minister Vol 3, PW 20 (27 Oct 99) People & Policy India also has a new junior oil minister. His name is Etienne Ponnuswamy and he is a former civil servant from Tamil Nadu. ... Buy this article forRs590 $9 For a 30-article or annual subscription rates click here RelatedPM wants more lower castes in ministry (06 Oct 05) Ram Naik leaves office as BJP loses to Congress (19 May 04) Three oil ministers become two as ‘Ponnu’ quits (14 Feb 01) Gangwar and Ponnuswamy seek clarification from Naik (31 Jan 01) No privatisation of stand-alone refiners (10 May 00) Gangwar and Ponnuswamy seek clarification from Naik (01 Mar 00) New work allocation for Gangwar and Ponnuswamy (16 Feb 00) Naik and Ponnuswamy on good terms (10 Nov 99) Lower castes welcome Ponnuswamy as junior oil minister (27 Oct 99) A QUESTION OF CASTE AT ONGC (01 Sep 99)