India Coalition Says Government Stable - Wall Street Journal (India)

By RAJESH ROY And MUKESH JAGOTA NEW DELHI--India's government on Wednesday said that it was 'absolutely stable' despite the withdrawal of support by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party and that its agenda of policy reforms and legislative business will not be affected after the party's exit. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images A file photo of P Chidambaram. "Even if there is a mild storm, we have our hands on the wheel and we will continue to take decisions," Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters during a conference, in an effort to allay concerns that the government's weakened political base could hurt its capacity to implement important policy reforms. On Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu state-based DMK party withdrew support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government protesting India's soft stance on alleged atrocities committed by Sri Lankan forces on ethnic Tamils in the island nation. The DMK alleged that the government allowed the dilution of a resolution on the Sri Lanka issue moved by the U.S. that will be brought in the United Nations. The resolution is expected to express concern over the human rights situation but the DMK wanted the Indian government to also press for a U.N. probe. Mr. Chidambaram dismissed the allegations. "India's position has always been and remains that UNHRC should adopt a strong resolution that would send a resolute message to Sri Lanka and goad Sri Lanka to accept an independent and credible investigation," he said. The government plans to seek changes in the U.S. sponsored resolution, he added. Mr. Chidambaram also said that the government has drafted a resolution on the issue to be placed in the Indian Parliament. "Opinion [among political parties] is divided" on the resolution to be presented in Parliament. "Consensus is expected by today," he added. The DMK party has 18 members in the Lok Sabha, or the lower house of Parliament. Late Tuesday, party leader T.R. Baalu said that a letter to witdhraw support to the government had been submitted to the Indian President and the party's ministers in the government would also submit their resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The five ministers resigned Wednesday. Following the withdrawal, the coalition government has 230 members in the lower house. But it is banking on regional parties, mainly Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party which together have 43 members, to help it keep above the half-way mark of 270 in the 540 member house. The two parties aren't part of the coalition but have on previous occasions voted for the government in parliament. via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEzIOhqRr56SX1RzQEWPl4i_Mq2uQ&url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324103504578371700028646958.html

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