This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7519860.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Indian government survives vote | Indian government survives vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| India's Congress party-led government has survived a vote of confidence over a civilian nuclear deal with the US. | 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 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. | If the government had lost the vote, India would have faced early elections, casting the nuclear deal in doubt. |
| The lower house was packed to capacity, with MPs summoned from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote. | The lower house was packed to capacity, with MPs summoned from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote. |
| After it was held there was brief confusion over the counting process. Most voting was electronic, but about 50 votes were cast on paper which delayed the result. | After it was held there was brief confusion over the counting process. Most voting was electronic, but about 50 votes were cast on paper which delayed the result. |
| 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. | 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. | A number of MPs also abstained. |
| 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 There were Congress celebrations when victory became clear, with dancing supporters cheering, clapping and letting off firecrackers in front of party leader Sonia Gandhi's house in Delhi. | 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 There were Congress celebrations when victory became clear, with dancing supporters cheering, clapping and letting off firecrackers in front of party leader Sonia Gandhi's house in Delhi. |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked MPs for "such a convincing victory". | 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. | "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 US welcomed the result and said it would work closely with the Indian government to have the deal ratified. | |
| The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says the vote had looked too close to call. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Tight vote |
| Two days of debate on the nuclear accord ended in uproar amid opposition allegations of vote buying. | 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. | Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging that they had been offered bribes to abstain. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Opposition MPs wave 30 million rupees allegedly paid to buy their votes | Opposition MPs wave 30 million rupees allegedly paid to buy their votes |
| 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." | 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." |
| The prime minister has promised his party will co-operate in an inquiry into the claims. | The prime minister has promised his party will co-operate in an inquiry into the claims. |
| 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. | 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. |
| India's media was awash with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote. | 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. | Under the accord, India, which has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, would gain access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. |
| Mr Singh called the victory "impressive" | Mr Singh called the victory "impressive" |
| In return its civilian nuclear facilities would be opened to inspection. Nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. | 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 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. | The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP fears that the deal could compromise India's ability to test nuclear weapons in the future. |
| 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. | The IAEA's approval of the plan is a key condition for enacting the deal. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 be approved by the US Congress before President Bush can sign it into law. | 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. | Critics of the deal fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes. |