'RSS told Atal, become Prez for your own health'

GET SOME RELIEF: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was troubled by his knee during his tenure as the PM of India.

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New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) suggested to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002 that he should become the president as it would be "less taxing" in view of his knee trouble, reveals senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani.

The suggestion was made by Rajju Bhaiyya, then RSS Sarsanghchalak who had a meeting with Vajpayee at his residence, writes Advani in his memoris My Country, My life.

Aap hi kyon nahin Rashtrapati bante (why don't you become the president?) the RSS chief was quoted as having said to Vajpayee.

The meeting took place at a time when there was intense media speculation of the RSS wielding enormous influence over the BJP leadership and believed to be calling the shots on several important issues.

Advani made a mention of a "significant development" that took place at that time.

"One day I received a call from Professor Rajju Bhaiyya, who was then Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, saying that he wanted to discuss something important with me. I invited him over the following morning and, over breakfast, he narrated to me the details of a meeting he had with Atalji the previous evening," recalls Advani.

Rajju Bhaiyya told him about the meeting with Vajpayee. The reasons for the suggestion, the RSS chief explained, was "principally that, in view of his knee trouble, it would be less taxing for him to shoulder the responsibility of Rashtrapati Bhavan".

Besides, the people would consider him to be the ideal choice in view of his stature and experience, Rajju Bhaiyya added to drive home his point.