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| India key nuclear debate begins | India key nuclear debate begins |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Indian parliament has begun a debate on a crucial vote of confidence in the Congress party-led ruling coalition government. | The Indian parliament has begun a debate on a crucial vote of confidence in the Congress party-led ruling coalition government. |
| The vote follows the withdrawal of support to the government by its left-wing allies in protest against a civilian nuclear deal with the US. | The vote follows the withdrawal of support to the government by its left-wing allies in protest against a civilian nuclear deal with the US. |
| Observers expect that Tuesday's vote following the debate will be close. | Observers expect that Tuesday's vote following the debate will be close. |
| If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would probably be scrapped. | If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would probably be scrapped. |
| Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters the government would "prove its majority" in parliament. | Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters the government would "prove its majority" in parliament. |
| Under the accord, India would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for opening civilian nuclear facilities to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | Under the accord, India would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for opening civilian nuclear facilities to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. |
| 'Tight contest' | 'Tight contest' |
| The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy. | The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy. |
| We wish to warn the government that in case you lose the trust vote, don't try and push the nuclear deal Prakash Karat, Communist leader | |
| After days of political bargaining and arm-twisting, the government and the opposition are heading into the debate still uncertain about who will win, the BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says. | After days of political bargaining and arm-twisting, the government and the opposition are heading into the debate still uncertain about who will win, the BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says. |
| With the left withdrawing support for the governing coalition, the government has only 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, and needs 46 more for a majority. | |
| The Congress party hopes it will be able to replace support given to it by the communists in parliament by receiving the backing of the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties. | The Congress party hopes it will be able to replace support given to it by the communists in parliament by receiving the backing of the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties. |
| The Indian media is agog with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote. | The Indian media is agog with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote. |
| "It's snatch-and-dash to the finish," headlined The Times Of India newspaper. | "It's snatch-and-dash to the finish," headlined The Times Of India newspaper. |
| "Vote looks neck and neck," said The Asian Age. | "Vote looks neck and neck," said The Asian Age. |
| "Contest tightens, situation volatile," reported The Hindu. Communist leader Prakash Karat said the government should junk the nuclear deal if its loses the vote. | |
| "We wish to warn the government that in case you lose the trust vote, don't try and push the nuclear deal. The country will revolt," he said. | "We wish to warn the government that in case you lose the trust vote, don't try and push the nuclear deal. The country will revolt," he said. |
| The opposition opposes the deal for a variety of reasons. | The opposition opposes the deal for a variety of reasons. |
| Indian communists simply want no partnership at all with the United States, while the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. | Indian communists simply want no partnership at all with the United States, while the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. |
| And smaller parties, on whom both government and opposition leaders have suddenly lavished attention, have been trying to calculate which side of the political divide suits them best. | And smaller parties, on whom both government and opposition leaders have suddenly lavished attention, have been trying to calculate which side of the political divide suits them best. |
| Under pressure | Under pressure |
| India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential election in November. | India is under pressure from Washington to sign the accord before the US presidential election in November. |
| Last week, Indian officials met members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world nuclear regulatory body, in Vienna to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. | Last week, Indian officials met members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world nuclear regulatory body, in Vienna to discuss plans to safeguard India's civilian nuclear facilities. |
| The IAEA's approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting the deal. | |
| If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval. | If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval. |
| It must then by approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. | It must then by approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. |
| Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. | Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. |