New Delhi - India's Congress party-led government won a
parliamentary confidence vote on Tuesday that was seen as crucial to
the fate of a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition won the vote 275-256,
with 10 abstentions. The vote was called after the United Progressive
Alliance's (UPA) communist partners withdrew their support in protest
at the nuclear accord, which they say could impinge on India's
strategic sovereignty.
Scenes of jubilation broke out at Congress party headquarters as
the result was announced. The emphatic 19-vote margin of victory
paves the way for the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal.
The agreement allows the US to trade fissile materials and
technology with India, ending a three-decade ban. India would in
turn, open its civilian nuclear reactors to international
inspections.
Tuesday's vote came hours after claims of corruption triggered a
tumult in parliament. Lawmakers from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) flashed wads of currency in the house, alleging they were
bribed to abstain from the vote.
Opposition leader LK Advani said the UPA had tried to bribe three
BJP lawmakers by offering them 30 million rupees (700,000 dollars)
each to abstain.
Describing it as a 'very sad day in the history of parliament',
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee promised a thorough probe into what the
media described as the worst corruption scandal in the Indian
parliament.
'I can assure you that no one who is guilty will be spared,' he
added.
The vote took place Tuesday evening after opposition MPs prevented
Singh from replying during the two-day long debate on the motion.
Amid shouts of 'the PM should resign' by opposition MPs, Speaker
Somnath Chatterjee put the motion to a voice vote. The speaker then
ordered a division meaning that MPs could cast their vote
electronically. Some MPs preferred to vote on slips of paper.
A defeat for the UPA would have led to early elections by November
in the country that faces slower economic growth and double digit
inflation. It could also spell the death of the nuclear deal.
The UPA government is scheduled to complete its five-year term in
May 2009.
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