Kerala CM accepts Cong leader's debate challenge
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday accepted Congress leader V D Satheesan's challenge for a public debate, intensifying the political sparring ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.
A day after Satheesan challenged him for a public debate, Vijayan shared the LDF government's "report card" on his social media handle and said the discussion could be held based on the achievements listed in it.
Highlighting what he termed as the government's "A-plus" performance, the chief minister asked whether the opposition was ready to debate on those points.
Soon after Vijayan's post, Satheesan said he accepted the challenge and was ready for the debate at a time and venue decided by the CM.
"Now that the chief minister has said he is ready for a debate, he can decide the place and time. I will be there accordingly. Let the people decide the rest," Satheesan said in a Facebook post.
The development follows Satheesan's criticism on Sunday that the LDF government had not built as many houses in the past 10 years as were constructed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
He also said that the detailed figures of various development projects implemented through different departments were available in replies given by LDF ministers in the Assembly, and reiterated his readiness for an open debate with Vijayan on development issues.
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Rupee falls 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region.
Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary.
Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India.
At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close.
Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday.
"With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying and oil prices rise due to the continuous fighting in the Gulf Region," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
The higher oil prices will keep rupee sold off against the dollar as oil companies and FPIs intensify dollar buying, Bhansali added.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.51, up 0.15 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading lower by 1.07 per cent at USD 113.22 per barrel in futures trade.
"Market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces when Iranian forces launched fresh attacks in the Gulf as both sides sought to assert control over the strategic waterway," Bhansali said.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 361.62 points to 76,907.78 in early trade, while the Nifty dropped 134.90 points to 23,980.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 2,835.62 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.
