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| India MPs to hold confidence vote | India MPs to hold confidence vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Indian MPs are shortly 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 shortly 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 say the vote following two days of debate is too close to call. | Observers say the vote following two days of debate is too close to call. |
| 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 tight. | 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 tight. |
| 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 | |
| Late on Tuesday afternoon, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the debate amid allegations of vote-buying. | Late on Tuesday afternoon, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the debate amid allegations of vote-buying. |
| There was uproar when opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging that they had been offered bribes to abstain. | There was uproar when opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members waved fistfuls of money in the air, alleging that they had been offered bribes to abstain. |
| Mr Chatterjee called it a "very sad day" for the Indian parliament, adding: "Nobody will be spared if found guilty." | Mr Chatterjee called it a "very sad day" for the Indian parliament, adding: "Nobody will be spared if found guilty." |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to respond to BJP calls for him to resign over the allegations, after which the delayed vote will be held. | |
| '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. |
| 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 | |
| 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 would win the vote of confidence. | Analyst Prem Shankar Jha said it was difficult to predict who would 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 promised the government would "prove its majority" before the debate began on Monday. | Prime Minister Singh promised 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. |
| The Indian media is predicting a close finish | |
| 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. |