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Indian government survives vote | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
India's Congress party-led government has survived a vote of confidence over a civilian nuclear deal with the US. | |
The government motion received 275 votes with 256 against, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said, hours after adjourning the debate amid claims of vote buying. | |
The vote came after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest at the controversial accord. | The vote came after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest at the controversial accord. |
If the government had lost the vote, India would have faced early elections, casting the nuclear deal in doubt. | |
There was brief confusion over the counting process. Most voting was electronic, but about 50 votes were cast on paper which delayed the count. | |
This will send a message to the world - India is prepared to take its rightful place in the comity of nations Prime Minister Manmohan Singh | |
At least four MPs were too ill to vote from the chamber of the 543-seat house itself, but it is still not clear why so many MPs cast paper ballots. | |
A number of MPs also abstained. | |
There were celebrations in Delhi, with dancing Congress supporters cheering, clapping and letting off firecrackers in front of party leader Sonia Gandhi's house. | |
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked MPs for "such a convincing victory". | |
"This will send a message to the world at large... India is prepared to take its rightful place in the comity of nations," he told reporters. | |
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says the vote had looked too close to call. | |
But the government managed to scrape through with the support of smaller parties and independent members. | |
India faces a general election next year and many political parties have used the debate over the nuclear deal to stake out their positions ahead of the polls, our correspondent says. | |
Tight vote | |
Two days of debate on the nuclear accord ended in uproar amid opposition allegations of vote buying. | |
Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging that they had been offered bribes to abstain. | |
TIMETABLE FOR NUCLEAR ACCORD Approval needed from IAEA, expected to meet on 1 AugustConsent 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 19 January 2009 Q&A: India confidence vote | |
Mr Chatterjee adjourned proceedings for several hours. He called it a "very sad day" for the Indian parliament, adding: "Nobody will be spared if found guilty." | |
With the left withdrawing support, the government could rely on only 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, and needed 46 more to be absolutely sure of a majority. | |
The Congress party had courted the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties to help it win. | |
India's media was awash with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote. | |
Under the accord, India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. | |
In return its civilian nuclear facilities would be opened to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | |
The communists fear the accord could give the US too much influence over Indian foreign and nuclear policy. | |
The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. | |
HAVE YOUR SAY Whether the government stays in power or not, it has lost the credibility and confidence of people at large Rakesh Punia, DelhiSend us your comments | |
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. | |
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. | |
It must then be 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. |