Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that there was a sense of gloom in the country when he was voted to power and that the nation was beset with corruption.

During a speech in Uttarakhand at an event where he inaugurated or laid foundation stones of development and religious projects worth Rs 4,200 crore, Modi said: “There was a time when pessimism ruled the country. We used to visit temples to wish that India would soon come out of its problems. Every Indian was thinking about setting the country free from scams involving thousands of crores.”

Speaking at the Pithoragarh Sports Stadium after virtually inaugurating the projects, which included the renovation of several temples in the hill state, the Prime Minister said: “You must be watching the situation across the world. The world is engulfed in challenges but India’s voice is growing. Only a few weeks ago we organised such a big G20 summit…. You saw how the world accepted the power of us Indians.”

Modi asked the gathering: “Do you like when the world praises India? Do you like when India gives direction to the world? Who did all this?” As the crowd chanted “Modi, Modi”, the Prime Minister said: “Modi didn’t do this, it was done by you, my family members. The credit goes to you people… because you formed a stable and strong government after 30 years in Delhi and gave me the opportunity to serve you.”

“It is the power of your vote that when I shake hands with big leaders of the world, I look into their eyes. You must have seen…when they look at me, they look towards the 140 crore people of India,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister offered prayers at Parvati Kunt in the valley. Modi worshipped at Jageshwar Dham in Almorah and visited Gunji village in Pithoragarh where he interacted with local people and jawans of the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Border Roads Organisation.