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The Left? What else is there to say? Marxists may ensure Dr Singh dumps the deal. But he should know that India’s strategic goals face two major constraints that become more binding without the deal. India is still not a member of the Security Council. And it is still a target of non-proliferation efforts.

Plus, the day the value of its relationship with India goes down in the eyes of America, it would no longer be sensitive to Indian concerns.

India will feel the effects of that change. Carried on too far, the present political discourse on the nuclear deal may take key global players’ view of India close to the way Kissinger and Mao saw this country in 1973. There’s one change, though — there’s no Soviet Union or NAM on India’s side this time.

Pokharan-II had opened up diplomatic options for India at a time the strategic space was shrinking rapidly. National politics, as the 10th anniversary approaches, is threatening to close those options.

shishir.gupta@expressindia.com