Скачать или смотреть INDIA: KEY AIADMK MEMBER THREATENS TO PULL OUT OF GOVERNMENT

(3 Jul 1998) English/Nat

India's parliament resumed session on Friday amid speculation about the strength of the 14-party governing coalition.

One of the key members of alliance, the AIADMK party, has threatened to pull out of the government.

Meanwhile several opposition parties are trying to group together in case the government falls.

India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee is confident that the political storm clouds hanging over his government aren't too threatening.

But he can't be sure of support from his key ally.

Powerful southern politician Jayayram Jayalalitha of the AIADMK party says she's not yet decided whether to stay with his coalition.

If she leaves, taking 30 members of parliament with her, the government could fall.

Some analysts say it's only a matter of time.

Meanwhile leftist political groups demonstrated on the steps of parliament against the government by blocking the arrival of members.

In the run up to the parliamentary sessions, opposition groups have been re-aligning themselves in preparation for any cracks appearing in the government.

A socialist party led by former Defense Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has formed a new opposition coalition.

It is calling on the main opposition group, the Congress Party to try to replace the three-month-old Hindu B-J-P nationalist-led government, saying its time was over.

Opposition groups are hoping to co-ordinate on key issues to try to exploit differences in the governing coalition.

However, at the moment, the opposition parties can't topple the government on their own and are depending on dissent in the ruling ranks.

The budget is also going to be a key test, with several controversial proposals likely to cause splits.

As well as this, parliament was expected to be lively because of the continuing controversy surrounding India and Pakistan's rival nuclear tests in May - which has raised the spectre of an arms race and possible nuclear war in South Asia.

Away from the domestic political scene, India's Prime Minister is having to deal with the consequences of India declaring itself a nuclear power.

Recently, two United States Senators flew to the region, to gauge India's views on nuclear weapons before a crucial Senate review of economic sanctions in a few days time.

Senator Sam Brownback, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, was accompanied by ranking member Senator Charles S. Robb.

A special Senate economic sanctions task force will review the situation and make recommendations by July 15.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think that its clear that there is a desire on the part of both our governments to build a strong relationship and we're going to be working on that. As Senator Brownback has indicated the immediate challenge for the United States is to find a way to deal with the sanctions question, and we'll be taking that up very shortly in the United States, and we have been consulting with each of the leaders here, among other things, on how that question might, play through, or how we might be able to work our way through that particular process."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Charles Robb, Democrat - Virginia

India says it's not worried by sanctions and may retaliate with sanctions of its own.

But the diplomacy is delicately poised - and the mood is optimistic and not confrontational.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We came here to start a dialogue, to listen, to learn, and to exchange ideas. We've had a very good first step."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Sam Brownback, Democrat - Kansas


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