PM hosts lunch for Bush, says he is a 'great friend' of India

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) India Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Friday showered praise on former US President George W
Bush, describing him as India's "great friend" who played a
key role in ending the country's 34-year isolation in nuclear
field.
Singh, who had enjoyed a great rapport with Bush during
his tenure, hosted a lunch in his honour besides having a
one-on-one meeting to discuss global issues.
The lunch was attended by Leader of Opposition in the
Lok Sabha L K Advani, Congress President Sonia Gandhi,
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and party MP Rahul
Gandhi.
Ahead of the lunch, the Prime Minister hailed Bush for
his key role in ending nuclear apartheid against India.
"Former President George W Bush is a great friend of our
country," Singh said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit
which will be addressed by Bush Saturday.
"We, in India, recognise the important role he (Bush)
played in the fruition of the civil nuclear cooperation
initiative," said Singh, who had last year told Bush that
"people of India deeply love you".
Singh and Bush had taken a path-breaking decision on
July 18, 2005 to enter into civil nuclear cooperation which
led to lifting of sanctions by the Nuclear Suppliers Group on
India for civil nuclear trade with the world last year.
PM's Special Envoy on Nuclear issue Shyam Saran, who
played an important role as Foreign Secretary in talks for the
Indo-US deal and his successor Shivshanker Menon, who saw
conclusion of the pact, also attended the lunch, along with US
Ambassador Timothy J Roemer. PTI MS
DDC