Rajiv Gandhi is the reason I am alive said Vajpayee

New Delhi, Aug 17: Former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, known to take on BJP leaders sharply in Parliament had however made an exception for Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Vajpayee had once revealed how Rajiv Gandhi was the reason, he was alive. An account of this was given in a book, "The Untold Vajpayee: Politician and Paradox" by Ullekh N P.

"When Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, he somehow found out I had a kidney problem and need treatment abroad. One day he called me to his office and said he was going to include me in India's delegation to the UN and hoped I would use the opportunity to get the treatment I needed. I went to New York and that is one reason I am alive today," Vajpayee was quoted in the book as saying.

Rajiv Gandhi had said that the BJP leader should return only when his treatment is completed.