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.

Before taking questions, the former Prime Minister had in a statement castigated the Modi government for failing to deliver on its promises to create jobs and bring back black money and had flagged farmer distress and rising prices.

“National security is imperilled, our women are unsafe, marginalised and weaker sections are facing widespread persecution,” he said.

Singh described demonetisation as a dubious scheme to turn black money into white and repeated that it was “organised loot and legalised plunder”. Corruption was peaking under Modi, he said, adding: “The Rafale deal needs a thorough investigation.”

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

“My respectful view is that Modiji is not using the post of Prime Minister properly. It doesn’t behove the Prime Minister to abuse Opposition leaders in the manner he does,” he said. “PM ko shobha nahin deta Opposition se gali-galauz karen.”