New Delhi, July 29 - It was clearly Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's day in the Lok Sabha Wednesday with Congress members repeatedly thumping their desks and cheering him as he countered the opposition's criticism of his recent foreign policy initiatives, while the debate on the issue saw fireworks and lighter moments alike in the house.

The much-awaited special discussion on the India-Pakistan joint statement in Sharm el-Sheikh opened with former external affairs minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha launching a frontal attack on Manmohan Singh in the strongest possible language. Not surprisingly, the treasury benches intermittently hooted Sinha.

The prime minister alternately seemed agitated over some of Sinha's remarks and bemused when Congress members interrupted the BJP leader and taunted him.

The prime minister looked irritated when Sinha referred to his earlier remark on the government going halfway if Pakistan took credible action against the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Sinha said: 'He (Manmohan Singh) has walked all the way..... and into the Pakistani camp.'

He charged the prime minister with going back on 'all pledges' made to parliament and said the 'four pillars of foreign policy - end-use agreement, climate change, nuclear deal and Pakistan have crumbled like those of the (Delhi) metro'.

In the corridors, the prime minister's media adviser Harish Khare looked happy and asked journalists how the reply went. 'It was good, what say?' Khare asked an IANS correspondent.