<p>Union Minister for Overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi today alleged international rating agencies are deliberately trying to downgrade the country's economic outlook to 'tarnish' its image at global fora.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Delivering the inaugural V C Padmanabha memorial lecture here, he said, downgrading of economic outlook by international rating agencies like Standard and Poor's and Fitchs was with a deliberate intention of 'tarnishing the country's image at international forums'.<br /><br />The country's economic foundation was stable as it had attained about seven per cent GDP growth which even developed countries had failed to do so, he said.<br /><br />Later speaking to reporters, he welcomed the CPI(M)'s decision to support Pranab mukherjee as a presidential candidate.<br /><br />The Marxist party's decision proved it had a political stand, Ravi said.<br /><br />On stand of other left parties like CPI and Forward Bloc to oppose Mukhrjee's candidature, Ravi hoped they would reconsider their decision.</p>
<p>Union Minister for Overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi today alleged international rating agencies are deliberately trying to downgrade the country's economic outlook to 'tarnish' its image at global fora.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Delivering the inaugural V C Padmanabha memorial lecture here, he said, downgrading of economic outlook by international rating agencies like Standard and Poor's and Fitchs was with a deliberate intention of 'tarnishing the country's image at international forums'.<br /><br />The country's economic foundation was stable as it had attained about seven per cent GDP growth which even developed countries had failed to do so, he said.<br /><br />Later speaking to reporters, he welcomed the CPI(M)'s decision to support Pranab mukherjee as a presidential candidate.<br /><br />The Marxist party's decision proved it had a political stand, Ravi said.<br /><br />On stand of other left parties like CPI and Forward Bloc to oppose Mukhrjee's candidature, Ravi hoped they would reconsider their decision.</p>