UPA expresses confidence, ready to face trust vote

New Delhi, July 11 : Confident of proving majority in the Lok Sabha, the United Progressive Alliance today said that it is ready to face trust vote.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the party has welcomed and thanked the Samajwadi Party for its support.

She confirmed that the party would abide by the Prime Minister's statement of not operationalising the Indo-US nuclear deal without taking Parliament into confidence.

She also issued a statement saying that the UPA's main commitment is to restore the secular foundation of the government.

She added that the UPA appreciates the support given by the Left parties. The Congress is aware that the UPA could not have formed without the support of the Left.

After the UPA meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the party has appreciated the long-standing relationship with the Left.

Revealing the details of the meeting, Pranab Mukherjee said that the government was in favour of convening a two-day special session of Parliament.

Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav too refused to criticize the Left for withdrawing support on the deal.

He said: "The Left might have some confusions and compulsions. Its pulling out was issue based so it should not be construed that they may not come back again."

According to sources, the UPA government would prove its majority on July 22.

A special Parliament session will be held on July 21.

Later in the evening, it would be finalised in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting of when the session of Parliament should be called to prove majority, sources said.

ANI