Former Prime Minister VP Singh on Thursday stuck to his guns that Atal Bihari Vajpayee thought of quitting BJP 20 years ago and insisted that it was "but natural" that his statements would trigger denials.
"I stand by whatever I have said in my memoirs Manzilon Se Zyada Safar .... I will not compromise with truth," Singh told reporters a day after Vajpayee ridiculed Singh's remarks that he as "laughable".
"Should they commit suicide by accepting the truth?" was his refrain when asked repeatedly why his memoirs have attracted a spate of denials from leaders of various hue.
He said that it was "but natural" that there would be denial of his statements in view of the "current political context".
In the book, Singh had said that Vajpayee was so unhappy with the BJP some 20 years ago that he had mulled over the idea of creating a new party.
He has also claimed in the book that BJP leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is now the Vice President, agreed with this proposal.
VP Singh said Vajpayee's plans to quit BJP were made at a time when the fight was with Congress and the opposition leaders were "very frank" in their discussions.
{{/usCountry}}VP Singh said Vajpayee's plans to quit BJP were made at a time when the fight was with Congress and the opposition leaders were "very frank" in their discussions.
{{/usCountry}}The former Prime Minister said that what he has written in the book was nothing but an "honest and truthful account" of the developments at that time as it was a "record for history".
"If I had suppressed facts, then it would have been betrayal with history," he observed.