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India communists meet president India left hits out at government
(about 1 hour later)
Communist allies of India's government have met the president and informed her that they are withdrawing their support over a nuclear deal with the US. Former communist allies of India's government say it has "not been transparent" over a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the US.
The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government would press ahead with the deal. Earlier, they formally withdrew support for the government.
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. The move came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to press ahead with the deal.
Communists say the accord 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.Mr Singh says he does not think his government is threatened.
Communist leader Prakash Karat told reporters that the four left parties had handed over two letters to President Pratibha Patil. 'Notorious deal'
Communist leader Prakash Karat said the government had "disregarded" parliament and "not been transparent" in going ahead with the "notorious" nuclear deal.
The government has plunged the country into a political crisis when it is facing double-digit inflation Communist leader Prakash Karat India's fight over 'national interest'
"The government says that it cannot place the text [of a nuclear safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)] to the committee we had formed with them over the deal because it is classified," he said.
"We would like to know who has declared it classified? The government or the IAEA? I would like a clarification."
Mr Karat said that the agreement has to be "made public if the government has to have any credibility".
He said the government had "plunged the country into a political crisis when it [is facing] double-digit inflation".
Outlining the communists' frustrations with the government, Mr Karat said they had asked the government to take some "urgent measures" to tame inflation.
"But all our five demands were rejected."
He said the communists would soon make public their notes and correspondence with the government over the nuclear deal.
Earlier Mr Karat told reporters that the four left-wing parties had handed over two letters to President Pratibha Patil.
"We have submitted letters withdrawing support to the government. And we have requested her to quickly convene a session of parliament so that the [ruling party] can face a vote of confidence [to prove its majority]," he said."We have submitted letters withdrawing support to the government. And we have requested her to quickly convene a session of parliament so that the [ruling party] can face a vote of confidence [to prove its majority]," he said.
Separately, veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu has expressed reservations about the allies withdrawing support to the government.
"I want our comrades to protest against the deal and the way the Congress is pushing for it, but I don't want them to vote the government out of power," he told reporters.
"That will help the Hindu fundamentalist forces to gain hugely," he said.
The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament.The communists have 59 members in India's lower house of parliament.
The Congress-led government is hoping that a regional party will help them survive a vote of confidence.The Congress-led government is hoping that a regional party will help them survive a vote of confidence.
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'
Reports say that the vote of confidence could be held later this month, ahead of the planned opening of the new session of the lower house of parliament on 11 August.Reports say that the vote of confidence could be held later this month, ahead of the planned opening of the new session of the lower house of parliament on 11 August.
Separately, Indian PM Manmohan Singh met US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Japan. Separately, Mr Singh met US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Japan.
''We talked about the nuclear deal, how important it is for our respective countries,'' Mr Bush said after the meeting.''We talked about the nuclear deal, how important it is for our respective countries,'' Mr Bush said after the meeting.
'Off-limits''Off-limits'
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.
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.
TIMETABLE FOR NUCLEAR ACCORD Approval needed from IAEA, expected to meet in late JulyConsent also required from 45-member Nuclear Suppliers GroupCongress to approve deal before President Bush signs it into lawAll this to happen before Mr Bush's tenure expires on 3 January 2009TIMETABLE FOR NUCLEAR ACCORD Approval needed from IAEA, expected to meet in late JulyConsent also required from 45-member Nuclear Suppliers GroupCongress to approve deal before President Bush signs it into lawAll this to happen before Mr Bush's tenure expires on 3 January 2009
Analysts say with the left pulling out of the governing coalition, the government only has 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, a good 46 seats behind the majority mark.Analysts say with the left pulling out of the governing coalition, the government only has 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.
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 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 will support the governing coalition on the nuclear deal issue.
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 has said he would submit an application to the IAEA as soon as possible. Mr Singh has said he will submit an application to the IAEA as soon as possible.