Indian parliament to debate nuclear tests

The Indian parliament will debate the recent nuclear tests when it reconvenes

The parliament in India is to reconvene for the first time since it carried out two series of nuclear tests that sparked widespread international criticism and led to economic sanctions by a number of countries.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, is expected to open two days of debate on nuclear testing with his most detailed statement so far on the decision to test.

Atal Behari Vajpayee's government is expected to be criticised but not threatened

Indian opposition parties are expected to be strongly critical, accusing the government of using the tests to boost their political profile.

They are also expected to urge the government against making provocative statements aimed at China and Pakistan, which Indian officials have mentioned as being among the reasons behind the decision to run the tests.

Conducted 24 years after India's first atomic explosion, the five nuclear tests carried out almost two weeks ago led to immediate economic sanctions by the United States and Japan.

BBC correspondents say that while India's parliamentary debate may be fiery it is unlikely any real damage could be done to the government.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has denied reports that a nuclear test of its own is imminent.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman dismissed a report quoting US intelligence sources as saying Pakistan had completed preparations for a nuclear test and could proceed in a matter of hours.

Budget to beat sanctions

The new session of parliament will also see a new budget next Monday.

The need for tough measures to counter international sanctions and to curb unrelated economic slowdown might lead to higher taxes or less than expected social spending.

Although few real clues have emerged as to the government's intentions, reports say the finance minister may opt to speed up and deepen freemarket economic reform in part to compensate for sanctions.

Defence spending is also likely to increase for the first time in years.

Other bills expected to come up in this session include the reservation of a third of all seats in parliament for women and the long-awaited appointment of an ombudsman to deal with complaints against the government.