Communists mull coalition withdrawal

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7482650.stm

Indian Communists mull withdrawal

India's main Communist party is discussing when to withdraw support to the government over a civilian nuclear deal with the US, a party leader says.

Communist leader Prakash Karat's comments came amid reports that the Congress-led coalition could go ahead with the deal and risk early elections.

The left parties argue that the deal would give the US undue influence over India's foreign and nuclear policy.

The government and its leftist allies have failed to break the deadlock.

India is under pressure from Washington to sign the deal before the US presidential elections in November.

The Communists, who have 59 members in parliament, say they will withdraw support for the government if it goes ahead with the deal.

Controversial

Reports say that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is believed to be the architect of the controversial deal, wants to proceed with it before the G8 summit beginning on 7 July in Japan.

The general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prakash Karat told the Hindustan Times newspaper that the left parties were "consulting each other in the context of the prime minister's participation in the summit".

"Earlier, he said he would go only if he gets clearance to go ahead with the nuclear deal. His going to Japan is an indication that they [the government] are going ahead with the deal," he said.

"We are, therefore, discussing the timing of withdrawal."

The move could lead to early polls - general elections are due to be held by next May - unless the ruling coalition secures the support of other small parties over the deal.

Separately, Indian PM Manmohan Singh has offered to place the details of the nuclear deal in parliament provided his government is allowed to complete the formalities of going ahead with the deal.

Any deal would also eventually need to be approved by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade.

"I have said it before. I will repeat it again that you allow us to complete the process. Once the process is over, I will bring it before parliament and abide by the house," he said.

Under the terms of the controversial deal, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel.

In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits.

Reports say that the Congress Party was backing the prime minister in pursuing the deal.

Allies of the Congress-led coalition have said early elections would go against them at a time of double-digit inflation fuelled by rising oil and food prices.

US President George W Bush finalised the nuclear agreement with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July 2005.

It overturned three decades of US policy by allowing the sale of nuclear technology and fuel to India.

With President Bush's second and final term in office drawing to a close and presidential elections set for November, the Bush administration is growing increasingly keen to wrap up the deal.

Many analysts and some within the Bush administration believe a failure to conclude the agreement could create a setback for the current momentum in US-India relations.

Note: I'm glad on this, as the election will be preponed and the migraine the CPI/M and CPI chopf#cks have been giving by using the 1998/1999 tactics of termagant Jayalalita will be over.

(praying that Congress will get a true, though not thumping, majority as in 1991).