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Petition Tag - parliament
1. Polytechnic Students Should NOT Pay Adult Travel Fares - SINGAPORE 
Currently, students from polytechnics and universities pay twice as much in bus fares compared to their peers in junior colleges (JCs) and Institutes of Technical Education (ITE), who are classified as post-secondary-level.
Polytechnic students, who in all technicalities are doing their post secondary studies, are considered tertiary education students. We end up paying adult fare! Our counterparts in junior colleges get to enjoy the subsidies while we are denied the subsidies.
"With the comparison of MRT concession pass between JCs and Polytechnics, JC student pay about $25 while Polytechnic student pay about $45 per month for the same service." Quoted from Edison Lim's Speech, titled : Student Rate For All Polytechnic Students.
Even as a soon to be polytechnic student, he/she would too have started paying adult fares even before entering a polytechnic. He/she is no longer given student subsidies, even though their age is clearly below that of an adult.
What is most absurd is that, when queried by MP for Nee Soon GRC about student concessions on trains and public buses, the Transport Minister Mr. Lui Tuck Yew, response was that it would cost transport operators $28 million more per year.
Can’t the government fork out the $28 million dollar per year, to provide subsidies for polytechnic students who are doing post-secondary studies? Isn’t the job of the government to provide for the welfare of its people? And would a $28 million pay cut from SMRT’s $895.1 million, or SBS’s $720 Million, affect them? I think not.
2. Saving Owain Glyndŵr's 'Old Dolgellau Parliament House for the Nation
Plas Cwrt yn Dre, also known as Owain Glyndwr’s Old Parliament House was moved from Dolgellau to the Dolerw Park, Newtown in 1886.
The Quakers, who currently own it can no longer afford to maintain it and are selling it for £55,000. It is undoubtedly a national treasure and we think it should be purchased by the Welsh Government for the nation.
The Boundary Commission plan to abolish the current Streatham constituency, tearing Streatham itself into three parts in the process.
The Boundary Commission's own guidelines state that they will aim to preserve existing historical and geographical links when proposing changes to constituency boundaries.
Streatham is a vibrant town with a strong sense of identity, evidenced by a broad variety of clubs, events and organisations, from The Friends of Streatham Common and the historical Streatham Society, to the online community Streatham Pulse, the Streatham Redskins ice hockey team and the hugely successful annual Streatham Festival at which both local and global acts perform.
The uniqueness of Streatham has been recognised by Lambeth Council which has agreed a Streatham Town Masterplan Strategy to give overall direction to regeneration and development in the area.
It is no surprise that the current MP put significant emphasis on the fact that he was born and raised in Streatham at the last election and that undoubtedly contributed to his success in a tight campaign.
The existing Streatham constituency is only marginally larger than the upper size limit of 80,473 electors by just a few hundred people.
But rather than trim some of the wards from Brixton, Tulse Hill, or Clapham that are attached to the Streatham constituency, the Boundary Commission's proposals rip the existing constituency into four different constituencies, tearing Streatham itself into three in the process.
The proposal to bolt the Streatham South ward onto the Mitcham constituency shows a complete lack of understanding of the area. Streatham Common is the focus of the community's leisure activities and home to the Streatham Festival. The Mitcham MP, not to mention the residents of Mitcham and Morden themselves, will naturally be focused on their own needs and are unlikely to have any interest in or understanding of the needs of Streatham’s residents. Residents from Norwood or Norbury are more likely to use Streatham Common than those from Mitcham.
And to call one of the newly proposed constituencies 'Streatham and Tooting' is completely misleading considering that it will include less than half of Streatham town itself.
Streatham faces on-going issues, such as the Streatham Hub development, that require dedicated representation in Parliament. To make Streatham's issues the marginal concerns of three different MPs will seriously damage our community.
In a perfect world the existing historic constituency of Streatham would continue to exist in its current form. We do however understand the difficulties the Boundary Commission faces in trying to implement Parliament’s wishes to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600, and to ensure that constituencies have a similar number of voters so that everyone’s vote counts equally. We are not protesting against that, just the implications of the way it is being proposed.
We feel strongly that a constituency with Streatham in its name should continue to exist and should include all four Streatham wards (St. Leonards, Streatham Hill, Streatham Wells and Streatham South), regardless of which other neighbouring wards are added to it to create a constituency that meets the Boundary Commission's criteria.
4. Allow Petitioning all levels of Australian Government using online methods
As it currently stands, petitioning Federal Parliament, and most state parliaments, must be done on paper.
This petition is to have the relevant levels of government make online petitioning and submissions an acceptable form.
5. Oppose the abolition of the Chief Coroner
Please join CRY’s campaign for justice for families of fit and healthy young people who are dying from undiagnosed but inherited heart conditions.
Every week in the UK, 12 young people (under 35 years) die from undiagnosed heart conditions and CRY believe there are hundreds more ‘broken hearts’ which are not being sent to heart specialists for proper examination due to short-comings in the coroners’ system.
This means other family members are at risk if a genetic heart defect is present; and bereaved families suffer even more heartache from not knowing the true cause of death.
To stop these short-comings, a Chief Coroner must be at the heart of the coroners’ system.
A Bill is going through Parliament NOW which proposes to abolish the role of Chief Coroner for England and Wales and this needs to be stopped.
6. Cycle tax for safety's sake
The cyclist free lunch needs to come to an end.
I want to send this idea and my reasons to the sleepy heads in parliament.
I would really appreciate your support on this as these pious Cyclists constantly flout the highway code and then complain about the people who pay an ever increasing amount of money for the roads that they ride for free.
So please help me end this discrimination and make things fair, right safer, and equal for everyone.
7. End tobacco sales in Australia by midnight 25th June 2012
Tobacco kills many thousands of Australians every year, adversely affecting tens of thousands of families.
80% of Australian smokers would like to quit. That's 3 million Australians being left in harms way. Smokers almost universally regret starting to smoke.
Australia is a world leader in tobacco awareness and is in a position to end the scourge.
Delay of ending tobacco sales equals EXTRA tobacco deaths.
Australian governments are still locked into tobacco reduction strategies rather than enacting the only measure that will end the tobacco deaths. They will not take that step unless very seriously pushed to do so. The Australian people are the only ones who can push them that hard.
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8. Αποζημίωση ελληνικού κράτους από την Siemens
Σύμφωνα με τους υπολογισμούς της Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής, το ελληνικό Δημόσιο έχει χάσει τουλάχιστον το 10% του συνόλου των προμηθειών και υπηρεσιών της Siemens στην Ελλάδα. Το ελληνικό κράτος υπέστη τεράστιες ζημίες και η αγανάκτηση των πολιτών είναι τεράστια. Η ομόφωνη απόφαση της Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής, χαρακτηρίζοντας την υπόθεση Siemens ως «διεθνές οργανωμένο έγκλημα» με σκοπό την εξαπάτηση του ελληνικού Δημοσίου το κάνει ξεκάθαρο. Όλοι οι Έλληνες πολίτες απαιτούμε την άμεση αποζημίωση του ελληνικού κράτους από την εταιρία Siemens.
9. Our Right to Eject a Minority Government
A fundamental of British democracy has always been that a simple majority can bring an unpopular government to a vote and eject it from power.
Now the Tories want to change this so that they can stay in power, even if the Liberal Democrats abandon the coalition and they are in a minority.
Stability is not an excuse for tyranny. We believe that this is undemocratic, unfair and un-British.
10. Need a Full Time Member Of Parliament Without Another Job
Members of Parliament should NOT have 2nd OR 3rd JOBs Yes we need someone to represent OUR interests, not self-interest as a full time MP.
Above all, we need someone to always put their constituents' interest above any political career. Stop the apathy by voting which is in our interest, stand up and be counted.
11. Don't change OUR national anthem
On March 3rd 2010 during The Throne Speech,it was said that there is a concern about the gender inequality of Canada’s National Anthem. Which leaves Parliament to assess if a more gender-neutral version should be considered.
We are serious about Our Right to Feel Safe in Queensland and we are calling on you to take action.
We feel less safe because criminal behaviour is not sufficiently punished in Queensland.
Whereas the citizens of Canada have duly elected the Members of the 40th Parliament, and
Whereas the first session of the 40th Parliament was prorogued during a period of profound economic instability, while the Government resisted a coalition helmed by a Member whose continuing leadership of his Party was in question, and
Whereas no such economic or political crisis currently plagues Canada, and
Whereas the Prime Minister's prorogation request appears to be concerned more with insulating his Government from the scrutiny of Parliament than from serving the interests of Canada, and
Whereas proroguing Parliament is a direct threat to the function of Parliament and the will of the Canadian electorate:
14. End arbitrary taxing powers of government
Taxation is the oppressive or coercive requirement for all Australian's to pay tax. Few people would question the need to contribute to the provision of services, but we are ill-served by governments with the arbitrary power to impose taxes.
There is no logic to taxation, and contrary to the rhetoric, it does not help the poor, but instead results in recessions, self-delusion, psychological repression, and a great deal more. It makes all concerned victims. Every MPs are not served by the system.
15. End Compulsory Prayer in the Aussie Parliament
Since 1901, Australian Parliamentary Standing Orders have required the House & Senate to open daily with a Christian prayer, to the exclusion of all other beliefs and disbeliefs.
"Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory, and the true welfare of the people of Australia.
Our Father, which art in Heaven: Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."
16. Have Fraudulent MP's Arrested
MP’s of the British Government have been accused of fraud with regards to their expenses claims. This includes Elliot Morley, David Chaytor, Ben Chapman, Bill Wiggin, Julie Kirkbride, Andrew MacKay, Fabian Hamilton, Alistair Darling, Anne Keen, Hazel Blears, Greg Barker, Jaqui Smith, Tony McNulty and Margaret Beckett.
Despite receiving hundreds of complaints, the Metropolitan Police have still not arrested these people. Any other person in the UK would have been arrested immediately.
17. Holding Ministers of Parliament to Account
In May 2009 the focus on politics in the UK was very heavily overshadowed by issues of politicians expense claims and there was little evidence of the government machine working behind the scenes. In the beginning of June however the conviction of two men responsible for the appalling murder of two French students managed to drag the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, into the headlines to make a public apology to the deceased's parents.
The reason for this apology was that unsurprisingly serious problems within the justice system had been identified in a report to parliament years prior to the offence. It is an inescapable fact that failure to properly address these issues at government level definitely contributed to the ability of Dano Sonnex to be in a position whereby he could commit the crime.
A further catalogue of blunders throughout the justice system each played their part in Sonnex being at large when he should have been in custody including Magistrates granting bail when he was on probation and a quite bizarre circumstance whereby police departments couldn't decide which were responsible for his apprehension. This resulted in a further 2 week delay during which time the offence was committed.
Although shocking this incident may not be the only such one in recent years as details of another case of ongoing debate continue to plague Kenny MacAskill MSP north of the border. Contrary to his parliamentary obligations under paragraph 7.2.1 in Volume 2 of the Code of Conduct for MSP's, Mr MacAskill refuses to release information which could show that another convicted person was possibly responsible for the suspicious death of Kevin McLeod.
"7.2.1 In representing people’s interests, members have a duty to respect individual privacy, unless there are overwhelming and lawful reasons in the wider public interest for disclosure to be made to a relevant authority, for example, where a member is made aware of criminal activity."
There is no other way to read this paragraph than to recognise that Mr MacAskill's refusal to disclose the requested information breaches the code of conduct. What is more worrying is that this breach could be impeding the course of justice which as Justice Secretary he is obligated to ensure does not happen.
It seems that while Kenny MacAskill is prepared to reveal that "efforts are under way to update police conduct regulations to plug the loophole", he is not prepared to release information resulting from the loophole. Information which could be preventing the parents of Kevin Mcleod from ever seeing justice done for their son. He has answered questions put to him by John Thurso MP directly related to the Kevin Mcleod case while publicly denying any knowledge of it which is not technically possible. In short his actions are actively preventing justice from being done rather than ensuring that it is.
Alex Salmond who faced charges of breaches in the ministerial code of conduct relating to misleading information regarding absconded prisoners on 30th May continues to publicly supported Mr MacAskill's position. In doing this, Mr Salmond has suggested that Mr MacAskill's continuing position demonstrates a lack of public opposition to it.
“The [ministerial] code says all ministers, including the First Minister, must not only give accurate and truthful information but correct an error at the earliest opportunity. Any minister who knowingly misleads Parliament should offer their resignation.”
Despite the above, Alex Salmond, Jack Straw and Kenny MacAskill continue to hold their positions while the flaws in our justice system which continue to wrongly release or fail to apprehend the guilty while equally through misconduct cause similar devastation to families through wrongful accusations and convictions.
It is time that the public are made aware of the full extent of misconduct within the justice system at all levels and demonstrated what it's position truly is regarding the effects of it on everyone in society.
18. Remove all candidates that have abused a position of power
Gordon Brown unveils a reshuffled cabinet and says he will fight on despite calls for him to step down.
They have abused their positions, some have stepped down, and all of them have said sorry. That is not good enough, they have abused our trust by taking money that was not theirs to take.
19. A call to Her Majesty the Queen to dissolve parliament, producing an immediate general election
The government has no credibility, parliament itself is held in contempt, meanwhile the economic crisis is deepening and national morale and international standing is plummeting.
We need to close the door on the corruption and incompetence of this current government, and cleanse the Commons of corrupt, greedy, self-serving MPs.
Only a general election can do this, and only the Queen can force this on a PM who refuses to face reality.
20. Pour un DROIT D'ACCES au CREDIT - RECHT auf ZUGANG zur KREDITEN
EUROPE des VALEURS – EUROPA der WERTE est une liste citoyenne pour les élections européennes 2009 née, en Belgique, de l’incapacité du gouvernement d’apporter une réponse crédible et efficace à la crise économique, sociale et politique dans l'Union Européenne.
EV lance une pétition, ouverte à tous les citoyens, à destination des gouvernements et des parlementaires de l‘Union Européenne, pour que chaque citoyen ait droit d’accès au crédit.
Il s’agit d’une mesure indispensable pour sortir de la crise économique en Europe, pour y renforcer l’égalité des chances et mettre effectivement en œuvre la liberté pour tous d’entreprendre et de se développer.
EUROPE des VALEURS propose un droit universel à l’accès au crédit
Tous les citoyens de plus de 18 ans ont le droit d’emprunter 10.000 EURO (1) pour financer :
- les appareils électro-ménagers, la voiture familiale ou professionnelle, l’équipement professionnel (max. 50% du prix d’achat) ;
- la construction et la rénovation de l’habitation familiale et/ou du local professionnel ainsi que de leur environnement (voies d’accès, jardins, …) ;
- la mise en place d’une nouvelle activité professionnelle ;
- les frais d’éducation et de formation.
Chaque Etat veillera à mettre en place les mécanismes nécessaires pour garantir ce droit universel. Le produit de la confiscation de l’argent d’origine criminelle et de la grande fraude fiscale sera prioritairement affecté au financement de ce programme pour une Europe des Citoyens.
EUROPE des VALEURS http://europedesvaleurs.wordpress.com,europedesvaleurs@gmail.com, EUROPA der WERTE www.europaderwerte.be, europaderwerte@yahoo.de
(1) Emprunt de 10.000 EURO maximum, au taux de la Banque Centrale Européenne + 0,5% (plafonné à 4%).
21. No Confidence In Westminster
Our "politicians" and "business" leaders are criminals and criminals are not going to pass laws against themselves.
22. Demand Alan Ferguson apologise for Genocide denial
On March 18 2009, Alan Ferguson, Australian Liberal Senator for South Australia criticized the Hon Michael Atkinson for stating that "The nationalist Turks led by Mustafa Kemal's forces and their frenzied followers began to persecute them through beatings, murder, forced marches and labour, theft of their properties and livelihood, rape, torture and deportations."
Alan Ferguson goes on, in reference to the above comment, to say "We can all rewrite history" calling the issue "debatable" and stating that the Pontic Greeks and Armenians are "trying to put today's moral judgement on events that took place 100 years ago."
23. Governor General must speak
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, agreed to the request of The Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, to suspend Parliament even though the Prime Minister did not have the confidence of Parliament.
24. Պահանջագիր
2008 թվականի ապրիլի 15-16-ին Ազգային ժողովում պատգամավորների եւ միջազգային փորձագետների միջեւ տեղի են ունենալու «Ժողովներ, հանրահավաքներ, ցույցեր եւ երթեր անցկացնելու մասին» ՀՀ օրենքում 2008 թվականի մարտի 17-ին կատարված փոփոխությունները քննարկումներ, այդ թվում նաեւ նրանց Սահմանադրության 2-րդ գլխի դրույթներին համապատասխանության հարցի վերաբերյալ։
Եթե դուք Հայաստանի քաղաքացի եք, որը համարում է որ այդ փոփոխությունները սահմանափակում են սահմանադրությամբ երաշխավորված հանրահավաքների ազատությունը եւ անհրաժեշտ է անհապաղ վերացնել նրանց, ապա կարող եք ստորագրել հետեյալ պահանջագիրը ուղղված Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Ազգային Ժողովին։
On April 15-16 Members of Parliament of Republic of Armenia together with international experts will discuss the amendments to the law "On conducting meetings, assemblies, rallies and demonstrations" introduced on March 17 of 2008. If you are a citizen of Armenia who considers these amendments as severe limitation imposed on freedom of assemblies that need to be immediately repealed you may sign the following petition addressed to the parliament of Armenia.
15-16 апреля парламент Армении вместе с международными экспертами проведет слушания о поправках к закону "О проведении митингов, собраний, демонстраций и шествий", принятых 17 марта 2008 года. Если вы гражданин Армении и считаете, что поправки являются нарушением свободы собраний, гарантированной конституцией Армении, и должны быть незамедлительно отменены, вы можете подписать соответствующее требование, обращенное к парламенту Армении.
The SNP government's u-turn on student debt.
A petition came up recently that was made to oppose The "Unborn Victims of Crime Act". If the bill dose not pass, unborn children will have no protection from acts of hate and violence. Some of them may even die before given the chance to experience life. Some take life for granted. Just think. Imagine all the fun things you have done, all the good times you had. Now imagine if they never had happened.
Just because some people commit violence against a baby who can't defend itself, it doesn't get to live like we all have. It wants to live, but it will never be able to hike, play sports, or have friends. All because their mother committed violence. If the bill passes, everyone will get the gift of life. Only sick, sick people would take the right to life away, and these sick people are known as the "Pro-Choice" movement. They think because of greed and laziness, the gift of life should be able to be taken away, just like that. They want to STOP the protection of babes; they want to steel the gift of life.
We must let life be for all to enjoy. We MUST get the bill passed.
27. Guidance on the literature made available in libraries
As an aspiring writer who looks to Shakespeare as a role model, I would consider it an honour to present this petition to the Honourable members of the Scottish Parliament with due respect.
Today as we see some of the writers across the world and in the UK, produce literature that are viable to raise roars and threats, a country which prides its freedom of expression cannot shut the doors for the writers, neither can they open doors to the extremists.
But writers who use racial discrimination and gender discrimination as their motif should be seriously punished so that no other writer does that and that the literature that the future British generation is reading, does not promote the same traits in them. If not done, this would lead to the promotion of the values which the British flag does not promote; as UK is and has been the main source of literature for the rest of the world.
What should be our stance in such a situation?
I propose that we should have a legislation passed that sees that both the writers and the readership living in the UK are not disturbed and that peace and harmony can be maintained in the UK. If we are to give our next generation quality literature to read then I believe that this petition should be the first step in doing so.
I propose the following for the petition and anticipate that the Honourable members of the Scottish Parliament will approve of the petition:
1. Freedom of speech is the basic right of every writer.
2. In case of threat, necessary arrangements must be made to ensure the protection of the life, property and career of the writer.
3. Writer involved in any genre should not commit any of the following during his or her writing, and the educational authorities and institutes should see to it that no such work be published in any form:
• Defaming the deities of any religion, including the prophets and saints of that religion and this extends to the families of the prophets and saints
• Degrades any Royal household, including all form of use of words.
• Uses any elements of discrimination in his writing
• Promotes religious hatred.
4. In the event that a writer is found involved in such activities, the following penalties may be imposed.
• Request for the imprisonment and further legal actions sent to the UK Government.
• Request for the honours to be conferred sent to the UK Government.
• Request for the financial penalties sent to the UK Government.
5. The writer must act accordingly to protect him or her being penalized by the law.
28. The Georgian president should be of the nation and for the nation
The president of Georgia was asked by his nation to start a dialogue or discussions with the parliamentary opposition regarding the date of the forthcoming parliamentary elections and some other issues related with the mishandlings of the current government, especially in the issues of human rights violations.
For 5 days thousands of people waited in front of the parliament building for the president to come up with some offer on the terms of discussions. His response came on the 6th day and it was a brutal violence against peaceful civilians. All the world has seen what has happened in the streets of Tbilisi on November 7, 2007.
Independent TV company was raided by the armed squad hiding faces under the masks and ruining and destroying the equipment and documentation of the company. The president Mikheil Saakashvili well knew about that action, but he did nothing to stop the violence.
Now he started regular interviews and long talks with some groups of people, and all his harangues are being aired on the national TV channel. But where was he some 10 days ago? Could he not speak to his nation in the open in front of the parliament building?
If he is so scared of big crowds in the open, then why couldn't he invite a group of oppositioners for some chamber talks? Or he wanted to whip the nation? Then he has no right to be the president, not even the right to be a manager in a minor company....
29. Restore the balance between Scottish and English MPs
I love Scotland, its people and many of its products (notably beef and whisky); my wife and I have enjoyed many happy stays north of the border.
However, it appears to me that the number of Scottish, especially Labour, candidates to English constituencies for Parliament is extremely high.
In Scotland, to put oneself forward as a candidate for public office, as an Englishman (or woman) is to invite ridicule and certain crushing defeat, as a result of the incredible anti-English feeling that is generated in such contests north of the border.
India’s communists have always opposed India’s strategic embrace of the U.S.
It believes that the U.S. is a hegemonic, deeply destabilizing power and India cannot become a close ally of Washington without sacrificing or compromising its policy independence and narrowing its room for manoeuvre in world affairs.
Second, the left argues that the text of the "123 agreement" differs significantly from the statements that Singh made in Parliament, promising that it would address all of India's concerns about full civilian nuclear cooperation with the U.S. and autonomy for the Indian nuclear programme.
The left says there are specific differences between the agreement and a law passed last December in the U.S. Congress as a prelude to "123", called the Henry J Hyde Act. The act mandates annual certification by the U.S. President that India is behaving in conformity with American foreign policy objectives, and also imposes a few other conditions that India said were not acceptable to it.
According to the left, the Hyde Act will prevail over the "123" agreement and can be used arbitrarily to terminate nuclear cooperation with India.
The act, it says, falls short of guaranteeing full-scale nuclear commerce with India, which was promised when Singh and President George W Bush inked the deal in July 2005. For instance, the U.S. will not export uranium enrichment or fuel reprocessing technologies to India.
The act, argue the communists, will erode India's sovereign decision-making in respect of its nuclear programme. Since the "123 agreement" essentially derives from the Act, it must be opposed.
In addition, the left is concerned at the likely impact of "123" on India’s traditional advocacy of universal nuclear disarmament. It says that by getting "accommodated in a U.S.-led unequal nuclear order", India’s leading role in championing nuclear disarmament "as a major country of the non-aligned community" will be given "the go-by".
The left also says that it is "debatable" whether nuclear power, which would be promoted under the U.S.-India deal, is a sustainable solution to India's energy problem.
"The bulk of the left’s current opposition to the agreement derives from procedural arguments (about Singh’s assurances to Parliament), and from differences between its text and what was promised in July 2005, and again in March and August last year," says M.V. Ramana, a physicist and energy expert attached to the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development, Bangalore told IPS.
The present position of the left parties significantly differs from its original stand on the U.S.-India nuclear deal two years ago, which emphasised its negative consequences for India's advocacy of global nuclear disarmament.
For decades, said the left parties in July 2005, India "was …committed to nuclear disarmament… The BJP-led government had begun the journey of accepting a junior partnership of the U.S. in return for a de facto recognition as a nuclear weapon-state… The current agreement marks an end to India’s nuclear disarmament policy".
Nevertheless, the communists have decided not to press for a vote on the "123 agreement" under Parliament's rules of procedure, unlike most of the non-UPA parties. A negative vote could lead to the fall of the Manmohan Singh government.
"The left is loath to topple the UPA government because it fears that that will pave the way for a return of the BJP," says Achin Vanaik, a professor of international relations and global politics at Delhi university.
