Indian government survives nuclear deal vote

INDIA’S government survived a hotly contested confidence vote yesterday, clearing the way for it to finalise a landmark nuclear energy deal with the United States.

The vote capped a week of intense politicking that saw the government rename an airport for a lawmaker’s father, promise a high-level job to another, and — rival politicians allege — hand out millions of dollars to many others in an effort to survive.

Most observers expected a tight vote, and both the Congress party and its opponents did whatever they could to muster their forces. One ailing lawmaker was wheeled in on a gurney, and a handful jailed for crimes ranging from murder to extortion were temporarily released from prison so they could vote.

Under the agreement, India would open its civilian reactors to international inspections in exchange for nuclear fuel and technology, which it has been denied by its refusal to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and testing of atomic weapons.

To finalise the deal, India must now strike separate agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog organisation, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group of countries that export nuclear material.

In New Delhi, the Congress party-led government won with 275 lawmakers voting for it and 256 against. The number of abstentions was not immediately clear, although not all 543 members of Parliament’s lower house took part in the vote.

In Washington, White House press secretary Dana Perino said the Bush administration continues to support the US-India nuclear deal.

“They’re going to need a lot of energy, and one of the best ways to do that is through clean burning nuclear energy, not through coal-fired power plants, until we have technology that can help us reduce pollution as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Perino said.

“There’s more support here than there, at this time,” she added.

If the government had lost, it would been forced to call elections months before the end of its term in May — a scenario the Congress party was desperate to avoid with inflation running at nearly 12% and economic growth slowing.

Following the vote, Congress party supporters set off fireworks outside the party’s New Delhi offices.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was forced to call the confidence vote after communist political parties withdrew their support for his government to protest the nuclear deal, which they fear will draw the country too close to Washington.