VOA标准英语2008年-Indian Parliament Begins Confidence Debate

The Indian parliament is debating a crucial confidence vote that will decide whether the Congress-led coalition¹ government will survive. The government sought the vote after communist parties withdrew support over a civilian² nuclear agreement with the United States. As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, the vote is expected to be close.
　
Indian PM Manmohan Singh, center, gestures, as he arrives at parliament house in New Delhi, 21 Jul 2008

An optimistic Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave a "V" for victory sign and said he is certain of winning, as he entered parliament Monday to seek a confidence vote.

Inside the lower house, Mr. Singh made an impassioned plea to lawmakers to back his government and its decision to finalize³ a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

"I would like to assure this august house and, through this house the people of India, that every single decision, every policy initiative we have taken, was taken in the fullest confidence that we are doing so in the best interest of our people and our country," he said.

The trust vote is scheduled for Tuesday. It was called after communist allies withdrew support to the government, because of its decision to seal the nuclear accord, which would give India access to civilian nuclear technology from which it is presently barred.

The pact⁴ has also angered the main opposition⁵, Bharatiya Janata Party. Its leader, L.K. Advani, says the party is not opposed to India getting civil nuclear technology or to friendship with the United States. But he charges that the nuclear pact makes New Delhi a "subservient⁶ partner."

"We are not at all opposed to having relationship with America. But, irrespective of how strong or how powerful the other country is, we would never like India to become party to an agreement which is unequal," he said.

After days of intense political deal-making and hard bargaining, in the Indian capital, political observers say the result is difficult to predict.

A clutch of small parties could tilt⁷ the scales, either way, and not all have revealed which they will vote. They have been wooed by both sides, as the government scrambles⁸ to stay in power and the opponents try to oust⁹ it.

There have been allegations that both sides have promised political favors, tried to poach members form the other sides and even tried to buy votes to shore up their support.

To survive, the government needs the support of half the members present and voting in the 543-member house.

The race is so tight that both sides are doing everything possible to ensure that supporters are present in parliament. Six members serving jail terms have been given permission to come out of prison for the vote. The opposition plans to fly in ailing¹⁰ lawmakers.

A victory for the government would mean that India goes ahead to conclude the nuclear deal with Washington. A defeat will mean the government will not move ahead with the pact and India will face early elections.

　

 

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 finalize   

v.落实，定下来

参考例句：

• Let us finalize tonight.让我们今天晚上干完
• 。At the same time,industrial designers work with engineers to finalize components and assembly.同时，工业设计师和工程师一道来完成部件和组装部分的工作。

4 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 subservient   

adj.卑屈的，阿谀的

参考例句：

• He was subservient and servile.他低声下气、卑躬屈膝。
• It was horrible to have to be affable and subservient.不得不强作欢颜卖弄风骚，真是太可怕了。

7 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

8 scrambles   

n.抢夺( scramble的名词复数 )v.快速爬行( scramble的第三人称单数 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• The breaking of symmetry scrambles the underlying order of nature. 对称性的破坏会打乱自然界的根本秩序。 来自互联网
• The move comes as Japan scrambles for ways to persuade women to have more babies. 这一行动的出现正值日本政府想尽各种办法鼓励妇女多生育孩子。 来自互联网

9 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

10 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。