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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| India left ends coalition support | India left ends coalition support |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Communist parties in India say they are withdrawing support for the governing coalition over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the United States. | Communist parties in India say they are withdrawing support for the governing coalition over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the United States. |
| The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would press ahead with the deal. | The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would press ahead with the deal. |
| Left-wing parties fear the deal could open Indian foreign policy to too much US influence. The government says it is needed to meet soaring energy demands. | |
| Mr Singh says he does not think his government is threatened. | |
| He is hoping the support of a regional party will help his government survive a vote of confidence. | |
| India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. | India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential elections in November. |
| 'No collapse' | 'No collapse' |
| The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament. | The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament. |
| We are against a strategic embrace with the most aggressive imperial power in the world today Communist leader Brinda Karat India's fight over 'national interest' | We are against a strategic embrace with the most aggressive imperial power in the world today Communist leader Brinda Karat India's fight over 'national interest' |
| Analysts say their pulling out of the governing coalition will leave it with 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, a good 46 seats behind the majority mark. | Analysts say their pulling out of the governing coalition will leave it with 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, a good 46 seats behind the majority mark. |
| But they say the communists' decision may not lead to a collapse of the government and early elections. | But they say the communists' decision may not lead to a collapse of the government and early elections. |
| Mr Singh thinks so too. | |
| Speaking to reporters at the G8 summit in Japan, he said: "I just learned it [about the withdrawal]. But I don't think it will affect the stability of our government." | |
| Reports say the Congress party has struck a deal with a north India-based regional party, the Samajwadi Party, and several other smaller parties to compensate for the communists' loss of support. | Reports say the Congress party has struck a deal with a north India-based regional party, the Samajwadi Party, and several other smaller parties to compensate for the communists' loss of support. |
| The Samajwadi Party has been a traditional political foe of Congress, but has said that its 39 MPs would support the governing coalition on the nuclear deal issue. | The Samajwadi Party has been a traditional political foe of Congress, but has said that its 39 MPs would support the governing coalition on the nuclear deal issue. |
| "Every Samajwadi Party vote in parliament will be cast in support of the India-US nuclear deal and to save the government," party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Tuesday. | "Every Samajwadi Party vote in parliament will be cast in support of the India-US nuclear deal and to save the government," party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Tuesday. |
| The Congress party is now expected to have to prove its majority in parliament in a formal vote. | |
| The communists had been insisting that they would withdraw support if the government went ahead with the deal. Mr Singh confirmed it would on Monday, in remarks to reporters en route to Japan. Mr Singh has described the deal as 'historic' | |
| Communist leader Prakash Karat told reporters that they had sought an appointment with the president "so that we can formally withdraw support tomorrow". | Communist leader Prakash Karat told reporters that they had sought an appointment with the president "so that we can formally withdraw support tomorrow". |
| "In view of the prime minister's announcement that time [to withdraw support] has come," said Mr Karat. | "In view of the prime minister's announcement that time [to withdraw support] has come," said Mr Karat. |
| Another senior communist leader, AB Bardhan, said: "The prime minister had to make this announcement at 30,000ft in the air." | Another senior communist leader, AB Bardhan, said: "The prime minister had to make this announcement at 30,000ft in the air." |
| Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has convened an urgent party meeting to discuss the withdrawal of support. | Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi has convened an urgent party meeting to discuss the withdrawal of support. |
| Under the terms of the accord, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. | Under the terms of the accord, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. |
| In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. |
| The deal now needs to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. | The deal now needs to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade. |
| Then it has to be presented to the US Congress for final approval. | Then it has to be presented to the US Congress for final approval. |
| Mr Singh said he would submit an application to the IAEA as soon as possible. |