India welcomes Canada's support on nuclear issue

OTTAWA: India on Friday thanked Canada, a key NSG member, for its support to the Indo-US nuclear deal and said that it would go a long way in accelerating bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Canada has now indicated that it supports Indo-US Nuclear deal and recognized India's need to employ use of nuclear energy for meet its increasingly large demand for energy for its expanding economy.

"We do not have any barrier in bilateral relations," R L Narayan, India's High Commissioner to Canada, said after unfurling India's tri-colour on the country's 62nd Independence day here.

Narayan said that Canada has been very supportive in passing the India-specific safeguards agreement at the IAEA and was keen to resume nuclear cooperation with India. "It could provide beginning to end needs of our nuclear industry including uranium," Narayan said.

"We are very happy about it and look forward for this new phase of our relationship as it would strengthen energy security in the country," he said.

Earlier, Narayan read out President Pratibha Patil's address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day in English and Hindi. Cultural function was also organized and a large numbers Indians were present on the occasion.

In Toronto, Satish Mehta, Consul General of India hoisted the national tricolor at the Indian Consulate and later addressed members of the community.