PM thanks Congressmen for backing N-deal

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] on Monday thanked US lawmakers for their enormous support to the historic civilian nuclear deal, which was signed between India [ Images ] and the United States last year, thus ending decades of nuclear apartheid against New Delhi [ Images ].

Singh was speaking when a group of eight influential Congressmen called on the prime minister at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, where he is staying.

The delegation of US Congressmen was led by Steny Hoyer; House Majority Leader; Howard Berman, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia; and Ed Markey, who had opposed the nuclear deal.

Influential Congressmen, Ed Royce, who is co-chair of the Congress India Caucus and Jim McDermott were also present at the meeting, besides Chris Van Hollen.

Thanking the Congressmen for their support to the nuclear deal, the prime minister said it is an important milestone for the Indo-US relationship.

Singh said he looked forward to working with the US lawmakers to further strengthen the Indo-US relationship.