Sources close to the prime minister said that, " PM Singh might have said such thing on basis of the report of Intelligence Bureau."
It is true that a senior leader of the BJP had been told by New Delhi-based astrologer that the newly formed United Progressive Alliance government led by Manmohan Singh will not last more than 6 months in 2004.
BJP certainly wished "political death" of the UPA government in 2004 and there were scores of reports to that effect.
PM Singh, in an interview to a political weekly said, "It requires a big leap in approach and the attitude of the BJP is disappointing. They didn't even believe I would last as the prime minister and some leaders even did havans that I should die on a certain day.
"But I have faith in a higher force. I believe it was my destiny to be the prime minister. I have the courage of conviction."
Vijaykumar Malhotra told the media, "We considered PM Singh a respectable person but we never thought he could stoop so low."