New Delhi, August 25
The Congress said its government would not collapse over the nuclear deal with the United States, despite warnings by its communist allies of "serious consequences", if it did not put the pact on hold.

The opposition of Left parties, which provide parliamentary support to the Congress-led coalition, to the civilian nuclear deal has triggered Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's worst political crisis since he took office in 2004.

But cabinet minister and senior leader Kapil Sibal said the government would not fall over the opposition to the pact. "This is a non-issue," Sibal told NDTV channel, in reply to a question whether the Congress-led government would quit rather than go back on the landmark nuclear deal.

"I don't think any government will fall. I don't think anybody will take that position once the issue is debated in Parliament," said Sibal, the minister for science and technology and earth sciences.

Sibal's comments aired on TV today come a day after senior communist leader Sitaram Yechury sought to calm worries about a possible withdrawal of the Leftist support, saying the Communists were asking the government to press the "pause button" on the pact, and "not eject or stop".

The nuclear deal was finalised in July after months of negotiations between the world's two largest democracies, although it still needs approval by several global institutions and a final vote by the US Congress.

Sibal said the government would address the Left's concerns on the 123 Agreement during a debate in Parliament expected next week. "The basis of their suspicions, the basis of their concerns and their doubts emanate from the 123 Agreement. If we address those concerns, the basis of those concerns will go." — Reuters