NEW DELHI, Oct 14: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said support was growing for India’s landmark civilian nuclear energy deal with the United States, despite doubts over its future raised by North Korea’s declared atomic test.

“I think there is growing support for India,” Mr Singh told reporters accompanying him on his visit to Britain and Finland, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The United States, Britain, France and Russia supported the deal, which will give India access to previously forbidden nuclear technology to set up power plants to fuel its economic growth, Mr Singh said.

During his visit, Mr Singh said he had sought support from the 25-nation European Union for India’s quest for energy.

“We hope the European Union will be in a position to support the forward-looking approaches to enhance international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” the news agency quoted Mr Singh as saying.—AFP