Indian MPs hold confidence debate

The Indian parliament is debating a vote of confidence in the Congress party-led government that could decide the fate of a nuclear deal with the US।

The vote comes after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest against the controversial civilian nuclear accord।

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 would be under threat।

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says the government will "prove its majority"।

He told parliament he had always acted in the interest of the nation।

"Every single decision, every policy and initiative we have taken, was taken in the fullest confidence that we are doing so in the best interests of our people," he said।

Launching the debate, the leader of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), LK Advani, said: "We are not against nuclear energy। We are not against a very close relationship with America.

"But we would never like India to become party to an agreement which is unequal।

"This deal makes us a subservient partner। It makes India a junior partner."

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।

After days of political bargaining and arm-twisting, the government and the opposition have headed into the debate still uncertain about who will win, the BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says।

With the left withdrawing support, the government can rely on only 226 members in the 543-seat parliament, and needs 46 more to be absolutely sure of a majority।

Congress and the BJP have a nearly equal number of seats, with 153 MPs and 130 respectively।

The Congress party hopes it will get the backing of the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties to help it win।

India's media is awash 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।

"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.

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 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।

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 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.

N-deal: US ready to do business even with minority govt.

Washington (PTI): Ahead of the crucial trust vote that will decide the fate of the UPA government, the US on Monday said it will move forward on the nuclear deal with any dispensation in New Delhi -- even if it is in minority।

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher said Bush administration will have no problem in dealing with a minority government as "minority governments are common around the world।"

"I don't have them off the top of my head, but I mean, minority governments are common around the world," he said।

"You can't say, 'Oh, well, we are going to stop dealing with you till the next election or until some new coalition or something। That's not for us to say," Boucher said commenting on the future of the nuclear deal if the UPA government fails to win the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha.

He said the US will continue to work with any legitimate government in India New Delhi to push forward the deal।

"If they have a legitimate government -- people who are empowered to run the government -- that's who we'll deal with," Boucher said।

"In terms of the United States and India, we deal with the legally constituted government of India -- whoever is running that government at the time, that's who we sign agreements with। So, that's not a problem for us," he said.

He said the Bush administration was ready to "go as far as" possible to see conclusion of the deal।

"We are going to work with the Indians, we are going to work with the Congress and we are going to take this as far as we can go," Boucher said।

"We are very excited by the prospect, we'll see what happens in the confidence vote, but however far the Indians could go, we are going to try to take it that far or further। So, that's what we are going to do," he said.

Asked about whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was little too late in pushing ahead with the deal, Boucher said it may not be "too late।"

"I guess what I'll say is it's never too late। This is not a deal between a government and another government. It's a deal between the United States and India -- it's good for India, it's good for the United States."

On whether main opposition BJP's contention that without parliamentary approval the UPA government does not have the moral right to conclude the nuclear deal, Boucher said "on our side, there is no legal problem or moral problem"।

"On their side there may not be a legal question, but there's always political questions and they're going to have to figure that one out themselves

"(But) As long as they are a duly constituted government, we are happy to deal with them," he said।

On the timeframe left for the 110th Congress to clear the deal, Boucher said the administration would try to push it and if the present Congress could not ratify it then the new Congress would take it up।

"As we move through, if we can move it to the point where the president can certify all the things that he has to certify, take the package and send it to Congress, we'll do that। If the Congress is in a position to act on it, I am sure they'll try to do that.

"So, I think, everybody wants to take it as far as we can. I can't promise what the US Congress will do, but if we take it to some point and times expires on this Congress, then the new Congress will have to take it up -- that's all you can say. So, that's our pledge."