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/7034988.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Key India meeting to end impasse India nuclear talks are deferred
(about 5 hours later)
India's ruling alliance is meeting its communist allies to discuss a key nuclear deal amid speculation that disagreement could lead to early polls. India's government and its communist allies have agreed to hold more talks on a nuclear deal which is threatening the future of the coalition.
The communists, who oppose the nuclear deal, provide key support to the Congress-led government. The two sides made little progress and will meet again later this month.
The meeting is taking place during a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Mohamed ElBaradei. Correspondents say their decision means that that they have pulled back from the brink of triggering snap elections over the deal with the US.
The stand-off is the worst to affect the government since it came to power. The communists are opposed to the deal, which they say gives the US undue influence in Indian affairs.
Under the deal, India will get civilian nuclear technology and fuel despite not signing a non-proliferation treaty. Under the deal, energy-hungry India will get civilian nuclear technology and fuel despite not signing a non-proliferation treaty.
Hot-tempered
The stand-off is the worst to affect the government since it came to power in 2004. The communists provide key support to the Congress-led government.
"Where is the crisis? There is no crisis. We are meeting again on 22 October," AB Bardhan, chief of the Communist Party of India - one of the main left parties - said after Tuesday's talks.
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said after the negotiations that the left parties would "not let the government fall" even though correspondents say that the discussions were often hot-tempered.
The meeting is taking place during a visit to India by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Mohamed ElBaradei.
The government is due to begin key negotiations with the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the deal to be carried through.The government is due to begin key negotiations with the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the deal to be carried through.
But the communists have made it clear that they do not want these discussions to take place, prompting speculation that the stand-off could lead to early elections.But the communists have made it clear that they do not want these discussions to take place, prompting speculation that the stand-off could lead to early elections.
Matters came to a head over the weekend when Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi told a public meeting that the opponents of the nuclear deal were "enemies of development".Matters came to a head over the weekend when Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi told a public meeting that the opponents of the nuclear deal were "enemies of development".
'No concern''No concern'
Reacting to the statement, the communist parties said that India need not surrender its vital interests to America.Reacting to the statement, the communist parties said that India need not surrender its vital interests to America.
Mr ElBaradei is attending a conference
Later Ms Gandhi told reporters in Delhi that there was no "concern" about the prospects of elections.Later Ms Gandhi told reporters in Delhi that there was no "concern" about the prospects of elections.
"If there are elections you face it," she said."If there are elections you face it," she said.
The UPA (the ruling Congress-led alliance) and the Left have begun "drifting polls apart", the Indian Express newspaper said in a headline.
Another newspaper said that Ms Gandhi's statement proved that the differences between the ruling party and its communist allies is "beyond repair and the Left could vote to bring down the government over the issue".
Mr ElBaradei is in India to attend an energy conference.Mr ElBaradei is in India to attend an energy conference.
He is also expected to meet PM Manmohan Singh and foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee during the visit.He is also expected to meet PM Manmohan Singh and foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee during the visit.
The nuclear deal is at the centre of a strategic shift in ties between India and the United States and is seen by the government as a major achievement. The nuclear deal is at the centre of a strategic shift in ties between India and the United States and is seen by both governments as a major achievement.
But it is being opposed by both the communists and the main opposition BJP who say it compromises India's sovereignty.