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/7055769.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Key talks on India nuclear deal No breakthrough in nuclear talks
(about 7 hours later)
India's Congress-led ruling coalition is meeting its communist allies amid signs that the government may shelve a nuclear deal with the US. Talks between India's Congress-led ruling coalition and communist allies over a nuclear deal with the US have ended with no indication of progress.
The communists have opposed the deal, saying it would give the US leverage over India's foreign policy. There are growing signs that the government may shelve the deal. The two sides will resume talks on 16 November.
Indian PM Manmohan Singh has said that efforts are still going on to persuade them to accept it. The communists say the deal would give the US too much influence over India's foreign policy.
Mr Singh told US President George W Bush recently that he was having difficulty implementing the deal. They have threatened to end support for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which could trigger an early election.
It was the first clear sign India could shelve the deal, which would allow India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel. The deal would give India access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel even though it has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Differences between the Congress-led government and its allies over the deal has led to talk of early elections. US companies are hoping the deal would pave the way for lucrative contracts in India.
We would like to know what the stand of the government is [on the nuclear deal] R Raja, Communist Party of India Is Indo-US deal dead? We would like to know what the stand of the government is [on the nuclear deal] R Raja, Communist Party of India Is Indo-US deal dead?
The communists are expected to ask the government to confirm it has been shelved. The administration of US President George W Bush is keen for the deal to be completed before next year's presidential elections.
"We have not heard anything from the prime minister so far," D Raja of the Communist Party of India was quoted telling Reuters news agency. Monday's talks were held in a "constructive and cordial atmosphere", Foreign Minster Pranab Mukherjee told reporters.
"They are changing their position every day. We would like to know what the stand of the government is," he said. Prime Minister Singh told Mr Bush recently that he was having difficulty implementing the deal.
Sitaram Yechury of the Communist Party of India (Marxists) told reporters that Monday's meeting will reveal "how the government wishes to proceed and on that basis, we will take our future decisions". It was the first clear sign India could abandon it.
The communists were expected to ask the government during Monday's talks to confirm that the deal had been shelved.
"They are changing their position every day. We would like to know what the stand of the government is," D Raja of the Communist Party of India told Reuters news agency.
'Meaningful consensus''Meaningful consensus'
After many weeks during which the government insisted it would press ahead with the deal, Mr Singh's conversation with Mr Bush last week pointed to the government backtracking in the face of opposition. After many weeks during which the Indian government insisted it would press ahead with the deal, Mr Singh's conversation with Mr Bush last week pointed to the government backtracking in the face of opposition.
But on Thursday Mr Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an official trip to Africa that attempts were being made to evolve a "meaningful consensus" on the issue.But on Thursday Mr Singh told reporters on the sidelines of an official trip to Africa that attempts were being made to evolve a "meaningful consensus" on the issue.
The prime minister called Mr Bush last week and told him that "certain difficulties have arisen with respect to the operationalisation of the India-US civil nuclear co-operation agreement".The prime minister called Mr Bush last week and told him that "certain difficulties have arisen with respect to the operationalisation of the India-US civil nuclear co-operation agreement".
He said the nuclear agreement was "an honourable deal that is good for India and good for the world".He said the nuclear agreement was "an honourable deal that is good for India and good for the world".
He said, however, that if the deal did not come through, he would be disappointed - but he could live with it.He said, however, that if the deal did not come through, he would be disappointed - but he could live with it.
It has also been criticised by many outside India. The landmark deal has also been criticised by many outside India.
Under the landmark nuclear deal, India is allowed to reprocess spent nuclear fuel - something that is seen as a major concession and opposed by some members of the US Congress as India has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Under the agreement, India is allowed to reprocess spent nuclear fuel - something that is seen as a major concession and opposed by some members of the US Congress.