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Nearly 100 non-governmental organizations and 25 individuals made their case in a letter to the 45 nations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which governs international nuclear trade, and to some board members of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog.
The letter argued that the deal would "damage the already fragile nuclear nonproliferation system and set back efforts to achieve universal nuclear disarmament."
Endorsed by groups including the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the letter urged NSG members to agree to cut off all nuclear trade with India if it resumes nuclear testing for any reason.
Among other things the letter, to be released by the Washington-based Arms Control Association and Tokyo's Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, also called on India to declare it has stopped producing fissile material for atomic bombs and commit to permanently end nuclear testing.
Analysts said these two conditions, if embraced by the NSG, would likely kill the deal for India.
The proposed US civil nuclear cooperation agreement would give India access to US nuclear fuel and equipment for the first time in 30 years even though New Delhi has tested nuclear weapons and refused to join nonproliferation agreements.
The deal is controversial in India, where it is opposed by the Communist allies of the Congress Party-led government, who believe it would infringe on Indian sovereignty. It has also been criticized by Western nonproliferation experts who fear it will undercut efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms.
New Relationship With New Delhi
The Bush administration sees the deal as the centerpiece of a new, strategic relationship between Washington and New Delhi and argues that it will help India meet its soaring energy needs and provide business opportunities for US companies.
US officials deny it will weaken the nonproliferation regime.
The deal was reached during the summer but before it can go into effect India must reach an agreement with the IAEA to place its civilian nuclear reactors under UN safeguards.
Indian and IAEA officials discussed a safeguards agreement in Vienna last week and are due to meet again on January 17.
"They made progress but they are still not there," said a Vienna diplomat close to the IAEA, saying the two sides were looking toward the possibility of finishing up in time for the IAEA board of governors to vote on any deal in March.
The deal must also get clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, whose members work together to prevent nuclear exports for peaceful purposes from being used to make atomic weapons.
After those steps, the deal must be finally approved by the US Congress, a tall order in a US election year.
"I don't think it's dead but I don't think it'll be easy to do this year," said Sharon Squassoni, a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace nonproliferation expert.
"It looks to me like the Arms Control Association is beating a dead horse because I think this deal is dead because of political opposition in India," said analyst Gary Samore of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. "It is really an irony that the US government gave the Indian government an incredibly sweet deal but it turned out that it's the Indians who can't deliver."
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The nuclear Deal is one way the US can get the upper hand and dictate the world's fastest growing super power and it's biggest threat after China i.e. India.The reality behind the deal : -It will force India to sign the non proliferation treaty making it handicapped and nuclear incapable for the future.Secondly, 8 out of 14 Defense nuclear reactors of India will be converted into electricity generating reactors, crippling India's potential of nuclear self defense. Nuclear Fuel for what ??? With pakistan and China gaining nuclear fissile material year on year India will get electricity. Moreover it will take around 10-15 years for the actual generation of electricity and all the technology will come from the US(EXPENSIVE) as the US is in recession and needs the money at all costs even at the cost of the development of other countries. India will not be able to invest in many critical areas if this expenditure is incurred eg. Education, Health, Agriculture, Transport.The nuclear capacity from these 8 plants will fuel only 20% of India's current power needs(considering the pace at which the demand is growing) by the time it actually bears result it will serve only a miniscule %.Another major problem is that India is not clear about the nuclear waste deployment mechanism, guess who is coming to clean up the waste - DOW chemicals the same company behind the Bhopal Gas tragedy. With the volume of operations at stake here it could well be a national catastrophe(as the plants are spread over the nation).We have other alternatives present - electricity generation through gas, hydroelectricity, wind electricity which are more cheaper safer and most environment friendly but the government does not want to promote them.The decision should be ours, Do we really want to bend our knees in front of a DEMOCRATIC Country like the US which does not have any consciousness of it's own are we that pathetic ?The choice is yours.........