Sonia congratulates PM on NSG waiver

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) Elated by the 'clean' waiver secured from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for the Indo-US Nuclear deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today led her party to compliment Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the achievement that ended 34 years of nuclear apartheid.

She was accompanied by many members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy making body of the century-old political party.

During her meeting with Dr Singh, she asked the Prime Minister to convey her appreciation to the diplomats and nuclear scientists "whose enormous efforts and skilful negotiations culminated in the NSG waiver" despite resistance from non-proliferation hardliners among the 45-member grouping.

In a statement, Ms Gandhi praised Dr Singh for his "conviction and commitment to pursue with determination India's integration with the global mainstream to meet the requirements of energy security." Explaining the waiver as a 'historic moment,' she said with this decisive step, India will also work along with other countries towards ensuring global energy security and addressing the issue of climate change.

"This is a tribute to India's impeccable credentials and genuine quest for energy security. It has ended three decades of isolation," she added.

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