Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said India would take all necessary steps to safeguard its nuclear facilities as the country tightened security in the wake of fresh fears over possible attacks.
"We will do all that is within our power to ensure the safety and security of our nuclear installations, there should be no doubt about that," Singh told reporters after talks with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Singh's assurances came after it was revealed that a man detained in the United States on charges of plotting attacks in India, had travelled to Indian states that have atomic installations.
American authorities are investigating US national David Headley for his alleged links to militant groups in Pakistan including Lashkar-e-Taiba, which New Delhi blames for last year's Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported Monday that governments of several states including Maharashtra in western India had been asked to step up security around their nuclear plants as a "precautionary measure."
India is currently negotiating a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement with Ottawa under which Canada is expected to supply India with uranium to fuel its atomic power plants.
Energy-starved India has signed similar pacts with the United States, France and Russia which allow the import of nuclear fuel to power its growing economy.
Harper, for his part, described India as "a stable and reliable country" adding: "We have no reservations in pursuing such… an agreement."
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