Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former prime minister of India, who turned 82 on Monday is upset with sycophants for pestering him to give them an opportunity for celebrating his birthday on grand scale.

His admirers are led by former minister of state in his cabinet, Vijay Goel.

"I hope people are listening carefully to what I am saying. I have the distinction of getting the same book released thrice, once by former prime minister Narasimha Rao and twice by Bhairon Singh Shekhawatji," Vajpayee said while taking a dig at his admirers. 

But it was not just Goel who was targetted by the former prime minister. He did not spare even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], who had dropped by to wish him on his birthday.

"It was nice that he came. It would have been alright even if he had not. We keep meeting anyway at various events," he said.

Vice President of India Shekhawat released a book of selected poems of Vajpayee at a function organised at the FICCI auditorium.

Undisputedly the most popular leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and one known for his wit, Vajpayee sat through a bhajan performance by Anup Jalota.