The former Prime Minister did not mince words when asked whether Modi had maintained the decorum of his high office

Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday that he had used a “harsh word” when he predicted in 2014 that Narendra Modi would be a “disaster” as Prime Minister and did not want to repeat it, but people would soon get a chance to give their verdict on this government’s performance.



Singh had been asked if after four-and-a-half years, he stood by the prediction made at his last news conference as Prime Minister when he had said: “I sincerely believe it will be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as India’s Prime Minister.”

He responded: “I did say Modi will be a disaster as the Prime Minister. Now I recognise I used a harsh word I should not have used. I don’t want to repeat it. But time is not far off when public at large would have the chance to pronounce on the efficacy or otherwise of public policy which has been put in place by Modiji.”

Singh was addressing another news conference on Wednesday, in Indore ahead of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election on November 28.