India Can Secure Nuclear Deal With U.S.
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
DELHI — India’s government survived a tumultuous confidence debate yesterday, clearing the way for Delhi to secure the passage of a crucial deal with America on nuclear technology.
The prime minister, Manmohan Singh, avoided an early election and prolonged the life of his coalition, led by the Congress Party, when he won the Lower House’s support by 275 votes to 256.
But the debate was marred by accusations of bribery and proceedings were briefly suspended when parliament’s voting machines broke down.
Nonetheless, government members of Parliament congratulated Mr. Singh with relief as the final result was announced. “The vote has sent a message that India is ready to take its place in the comity of nations,” the prime minister said.
His victory, by a wider margin than some had expected, ended a fortnight of intense lobbying. The government’s left-wing allies from India’s Communist parties had withdrawn their support because they opposed the nuclear deal, viewing it as an American plot to drag India into its orbit.
Mr. Singh had to struggle for every vote. The government secured one vote by renaming an airport after an MP’s father. Another member was carried into the Lok Sabha, or Lower House, on a stretcher to vote while six others were temporarily released from prison, where they were serving terms for murder and extortion.
Shortly before the vote, Parliament descended into chaos when three opposition MPs from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rushed on to the floor waving bundles of cash. They claimed to have received sums totaling about $700,000 from Congress party officials who wanted them to abstain.
The landmark nuclear deal, which is now assured, will allow India full access to civilian nuclear fuel and technology. It will keep its arsenal of nuclear weapons and stay out of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but will adopt safeguards designed to prevent the global spread of military nuclear technology.
The agreement will also unlock about $40 billion of investment in civilian nuclear power generation over the next 10 years. This giant expansion will be necessary if India is to sustain its economic growth rate of 9% per annum, the world’s second highest after China’s.
