World has now recognised India as a nuclear power: Narayanan

New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) Hailing the passage of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal by U.S. Congress, India Thursday said the world at large has now recognised it as a nuclear power.

"The world needs India as India needs the world. It's
something which we have understood but the world at large has
now recognised...We are now a recognised nuclear power,"
National Security Adviser M K Narayanan said.

With the Senate today overwhelmingly voting a bill
rejecting all killer amendments, the US Congress has put its
stamp of approval on the nuclear deal, paving the way for the
implementation of the major initiative between the two
countries.

The deal, entered into between Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and President George W Bush in 2005 and which nearly
brought down the U.P.A. Government, was approved by the Senate
with 86 voting for and 13 against with bi-partisan support
after rejecting the killer amendments moved by two Democratic
Senators.

With the Senate vote, the deal is now ready for
signing by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she
arrives in New Delhi on her rescheduled trip on Saturday with
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. PTI SC