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India parties debate nuclear deal India parties debate nuclear deal
(about 3 hours later)
Communist allies of India's ruling government are holding meetings to discuss their opposition to a landmark nuclear deal with the US. Communist allies of India's government are holding meetings to discuss their opposition to a landmark nuclear deal with the US.
Under the deal, India gets access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel. The communists say the deal, under which India gets access to civilian nuclear technology and fuel, gives the US leverage on India's foreign policy.
The communists have said the deal is an unequal one and will give the US leverage over India's foreign policy. PM Manmohan Singh has refused to back down, even challenging the communists to withdraw support for his government.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has refused to back down, even challenging the communists to withdraw their support for his government. Separately, Australia has defended its decision to sell uranium to India.
'Misled'
Correspondents say there is a division among the communists on how much they should push the Congress party-led government in opposing the nuclear deal.Correspondents say there is a division among the communists on how much they should push the Congress party-led government in opposing the nuclear deal.
Our policy is not to pull down the government Biman Bose, communist leaderOur policy is not to pull down the government Biman Bose, communist leader
A senior leader of the Communist Party Of India (CPI), AB Bardhan, has been quoted by the Indian Express newspaper as saying that the "honeymoon" with the government is over and that the communists will not hesitate to file "divorce papers if it comes to that". A senior leader of the Communist Party Of India (CPI), AB Bardhan, told the Indian Express newspaper that the "honeymoon" with the government was over and the communists would not hesitate to file "divorce papers if it comes to that".
But a regional leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Biman Bose, told the same newspaper that talk of withdrawing support for the government was "gossip and seems to have no real basis".But a regional leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Biman Bose, told the same newspaper that talk of withdrawing support for the government was "gossip and seems to have no real basis".
He said: "Our policy is not to pull down the government, but to work for change in policies of the government which are not in national interest." He said: "Our policy is not to pull down the government, but to work for change in policies of the government which are not in the national interest."
The Congress government has said it is confident of resolving its differences with its allies.The Congress government has said it is confident of resolving its differences with its allies.
"Whatever problems are there will be resolved," federal parliamentary affairs minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said."Whatever problems are there will be resolved," federal parliamentary affairs minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said.
Parliament disrupted Mr Howard says India has a "good non-proliferation track record"
The Indian parliament was thrown into turmoil on Thursday over a reported US statement that the nuclear deal would be ended if India tested another bomb.The Indian parliament was thrown into turmoil on Thursday over a reported US statement that the nuclear deal would be ended if India tested another bomb.
Politicians from the opposition BJP party and the government's left-wing allies repeatedly disrupted proceedings.Politicians from the opposition BJP party and the government's left-wing allies repeatedly disrupted proceedings.
They alleged that Mr Singh had misled the house on Monday when he said the deal would not undermine India's nuclear weapons programme.They alleged that Mr Singh had misled the house on Monday when he said the deal would not undermine India's nuclear weapons programme.
Mr Singh had described the agreement as "historic", and said it would open new doors to India across the world.Mr Singh had described the agreement as "historic", and said it would open new doors to India across the world.
He said the deal would not in any way affect India's right to carry out nuclear tests in the future or inhibit the country's nuclear weapons programme.He said the deal would not in any way affect India's right to carry out nuclear tests in the future or inhibit the country's nuclear weapons programme.
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. 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 as India has not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
The deal reverses three decades of US anti-proliferation policy and formalises a warmer relationship between India and the US. Vow to block
Australia's decision to sell uranium to India overturns that country's long-standing rule of not exporting to non-signatory nations.
Prime Minister John Howard on Friday said the decision was the best way to bring India into the nuclear mainstream.
Mr Howard said the deal would curb global warming by promoting nuclear power.
But the opposition Labor Party has vowed to block any deal if it wins power in federal elections this year.