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| India MPs to hold confidence vote | India MPs to hold confidence vote |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Indian MPs are preparing to hold a vote of confidence in the Congress party-led government that could decide the fate of a nuclear deal with the US. | Indian MPs are preparing to hold a vote of confidence in the Congress party-led government that could decide the fate of a nuclear deal with the US. |
| It comes after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest against the controversial civilian nuclear accord. | It comes after the government's left-wing allies withdrew their support in protest against the controversial civilian nuclear accord. |
| Observers expect the vote following two days of debate will be close. | Observers expect the vote following two days of debate will be close. |
| If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would be under threat. | If the government loses the vote, India faces early elections and the nuclear deal would be under threat. |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says the momentum appeared to be with the government as the second day of parliamentary debate began, but it is extremely close. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says the momentum appeared to be with the government as the second day of parliamentary debate began, but it is extremely close. |
| A short while ago there was uproar after opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging they had been offered bribes to abstain from the vote. | |
| Speaker Somnath Chatterjee temporarily adjourned the debate and has called an all-party meeting to discuss the claims. | Speaker Somnath Chatterjee temporarily adjourned the debate and has called an all-party meeting to discuss the claims. |
| 'Horse trading' | 'Horse trading' |
| Members of parliament have been summoned from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote. | Members of parliament have been summoned from their sick beds and even from prison cells to take part in the vote. |
| 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 |
| A BBC correspondent in the lower house of the parliament, where the debate is being held, says it is packed to capacity. | A BBC correspondent in the lower house of the parliament, where the debate is being held, says it is packed to capacity. |
| The visitors' gallery is also full with members from the upper house, businessmen, diplomats, and local and international media present. | The visitors' gallery is also full with members from the upper house, businessmen, diplomats, and local and international media present. |
| Federal railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav had the MPs and visitors in splits during his speech with his jokes and wisecracks aimed at the opposition. | Federal railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav had the MPs and visitors in splits during his speech with his jokes and wisecracks aimed at the opposition. |
| Analyst Prem Shankar Jha said it was difficult to predict who will win the vote of confidence. | Analyst Prem Shankar Jha said it was difficult to predict who will win the vote of confidence. |
| "So hectic has been the horse-trading been that it is no longer possible to predict what will happen," he said. | "So hectic has been the horse-trading been that it is no longer possible to predict what will happen," he said. |
| Prime Minister Singh said the government would "prove its majority" before the debate began on Monday. | Prime Minister Singh said the government would "prove its majority" before the debate began on Monday. |
| Federal finance minister P Chidambaram defended the nuclear deal during the debate on Tuesday. | Federal finance minister P Chidambaram defended the nuclear deal during the debate on Tuesday. |
| "The question is do we want to come out of nuclear isolation? I want India to become an economic power, a superpower," he said. | "The question is do we want to come out of nuclear isolation? I want India to become an economic power, a superpower," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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 has 153 MPs. The BJP has 130. | Congress has 153 MPs. The BJP has 130. |
| The Congress party hopes it will get the backing of the regional Samajwadi party and other smaller parties to help it win. | 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. | India's media is awash with reports of alleged defections and desertions among MPs ahead of the vote. |
| 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. |
| 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. |