Indian govt, US N-deal survive confidence vote

NEW DELHI (Agencies) - India’s embattled coalition government survived a chaotic parliamentary confidence vote in Lok Sabha Tuesday, clearing the way for it to forge ahead with a civilian nuclear energy deal with the United States.
The emphatic victory has ended the political uncertainty. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh won the backing of 275 deputies against 256 who opposed his Congress-led government, mainly left-wingers and Hindu nationalists, speaker Somnath Chatterjee said at the end of a raucous session.
The comfortable margin of the win was made possible by the cross voting of 12 MPs from the NDA, sources say. BJP chief LK Advani informed the media that seven MPs from the BJP ranks cross voted in favour of the government. Two members from TDP also voted in favour of the government. One BJD MPs Harihar Swan who had also voted in favour of the government has already been expelled.
Another five BJP members abstained from voting. The names of those who abstained are Chandrabhan Singh, Manorma, Haribhan, Manjunath And Sangalina. One member of Akali Dal also abstained and the party has sought an explanation from him.
Another five BJP members abstained from voting. One member of Akali Dal also abstained and the party has sought an explanation from him.
The result came after a tense hand-count of some votes that apparently were not properly recorded by machine, and a furore over Opposition allegations that the ruling coalition paid out large sums of cash in bribes to ensure its win.
The day was marred by high drama when BJP members shocked the House displaying bundles of currency notes. Charges and counter-charges over the bribery allegations disrupted proceedings for over two hours with the Opposition members not allowing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to make his customary reply winding up the two-day debate that was often acrimonious.
In his six-page reply, which was laid on the table, the Indian Prime Minister hit out at the Left parties, saying “They wanted me to behave as their bonded slave.”
“They wanted a veto over every single step of negotiations which is not acceptable,” he said with regard to the negotiating processes he wanted to undertake with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group before operationalising the nuclear agreement.
He said, “I have often said that I am a politician by accident....... whatever I have done in this high office I have done so with a clear conscience and the best interest of my country.”