President Patil congratulates Barack Obama

New Delhi, Nov 5 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil today congratulated Senator Barack Obama on his election as the next President of the United States of America.

In her message, the President said, "Excellency, please accept my heartiest congratulations on your election as the next President of the United States of America.

"The people of India, who have closely followed the U.S. election process with unprecedented interest, see your election as a historic mandate of the people of the United States of America," she added.

Patil said that our Governments have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations based on our common traditions of democracy, rule of law and the affinities between our pluralistic, secular, multi-cultural and open societies.

"India and the United States of America should build on the strong partnership that has been developed in recent years and strengthen our bilateral co-operation to the mutual benefit of our peoples - even as we work together to face the unprecedented common challenges at the global level relating to the changing climate, threats from the dark forces of terror, and energy, health and food security," she added. (ANI)