“If the U.S.-India nuclear deal collapses now, it would be the best outcome for nuclear nonproliferation and a merciful end for a deal which has run into serious difficulties all over the world,” said Rep. Markey.

“A growing number of countries at the Nuclear Suppliers Group have been expressing serious doubts about the wisdom of the deal, and the NSG was expected to demand strong nonproliferation conditions. Meanwhile, concerns about the ramifications of deal have created more critics on Capitol Hill and I suspect very few members of Congress will mourn the passing of this terribly flawed proposal.

“India has a place in the global nonproliferation system, but the Bush nuclear deal was a bad idea from the start. The terms of the deal were mind-boggling: In essence they said, if the U.S. was forced to stop shipments of uranium to India because India exploded a new nuclear weapon, the U.S. would help India find an alternative source of uranium, likely from France or Russia! It’s a nuclear wink-and-nudge, promising to keep the uranium flowing even if they explode another bomb.

“As the Indian Prime Minister has said, the failure of this deal will not derail the U.S.-India relationship. The trade between our countries has grown at an incredible pace, and will continue to do so. The collapse of this deal would be a great thing for nonproliferation at very little cost to the bilateral U.S.-Indian relationship.”