Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a scathing critique of pre-2014 governance during his address to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, characterizing it as an era of scams that had plunged the nation into despair. His speech, given in reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, emphasized the transformative impact of his government’s tenure since 2014.

“Before 2014, there was a period of scams after scams,” PM Modi said, “Our country had sunk into a pit of despair.” He highlighted that the most significant loss prior to 2014 was the erosion of self-confidence among citizens, with a prevailing belief that “nothing can be done for this country.”

The Prime Minister contrasted this bleak picture with his government’s achievements over the past decade. “In my ten years of governance, we have achieved many milestones, but the biggest one was pulling the country out of the pit of despair and bringing it to the heights of hope,” he said.

PM Modi emphasized his administration’s commitment to swift decision-making, citing the improved performance of Indian banks as an example. He also highlighted a more assertive approach to national security, saying, “Today, post-2014, India enters their [terrorists’] homes and strikes.”

Addressing the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister claimed that those who had worshipped the article had deteriorated the region’s condition.

“People who upheld the constitution on their heads did not want to implement it in J-K. Today, after the wall of Article 370 has fallen, stone-pelting has stopped, democracy is strong, and people are coming forward in large numbers to vote, trusting the Indian constitution,” the Prime Minister said.

(Inputs from ANI)