Political parties are not entrusted with an obligation to safeguard the national interest. That’s the strict preserve of the prime minister and the Cabinet Committee on Security. As India heads into an election year with unfulfilled actions in what admittedly constitutes national interest, the buck has to stop with the prime minister. The fact that India finds itself in a less favourable situation than China or Iran despite enjoying a clear head start, the fact that the Indian nuclear programme is starved of fuel with reactors running at half their capacity, are questions for the government to answer, not the Left or the BJP. That’s why it’s critical to put an end to that uncertainty over the deal, either way this month. At least, that would allow fresh stocktaking — by whoever takes charge of the national interest next.

pranab.samanta@expressindia.com