NEW DELHI: The Indo-US nuclear deal may have been stuck in a political storm, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lauded the efforts of Indian community in the US for influencing political leadership there on the issue.

"I wish to record our special gratitude to the Indian community in the USA for the efforts made by them in mobilizing support of the political leadership in that country for Indo-US cooperation in civil nuclear energy," he said. Singh was inaugurating the sixth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here attended by over 1,500 overseas Indians from around 50 countries.

He said there is a clear recognition in India of the "growing clout and influence" of Indian communities in their adopted homes. "Each of you represents the idea of India in different parts of the world," he added.