NEW DELHI, Oct 22: The stalled nuclear deal between India and the United States has set off a flurry of verbal exchanges between the government and opposition parties here, but reports on Monday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had gone into a sulk and was considering quitting were denied by his party spokesman.

Press Trust of India and CNN-IBN led the field with reports of Dr Singh’s anger at some of his cabinet colleagues who he is alleged to have accused of betrayal.

The prime minister, according to a PTI report, “today appeared to have given vent to his feeling of disappointment especially over their U-turn on the issue. The prime minister told a meeting of his party leaders and the allies during a strategy session ahead of the UPA-Left meeting on the nuclear deal that he felt let down.”

He is understood to have remarked that the ‘pause button’ on the deal has affected the country’s image and it could have implications on the international commitments that India gives in future, PTI said.

Dr Singh, according to this version of the events, is believed to have also remarked that the allies who were part of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had cleared the deal and he was surprised that they were now having second thoughts on it.

Separate reports said the government was ready to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the deal.