The Congress party on Monday dismissed as 'baseless' the speculation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] has threatened to quit over the nuclear deal controversy.

"I don't respond to baseless speculations," Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said when asked about reports that Dr Singh had threatened to quit earlier in the day during a meeting with leaders of some allies.

The assertion came amid reports that the prime minister had told the meeting that he had felt let down by the allies over the nuclear deal and was feeling embarrassed.

Dr Singh had last week said that allies of the UPA government were 'part and parcel' of the decision to go ahead with the deal.