India a far stronger country now than a decade ago: Manmohan Singh

In his last address to the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said he had always tried to do his best in serving the country and that he was leaving India "a far stronger country in every respect than it was a decade ago".

He said the just concluded national election, which saw the ruling Congress suffer its worst electoral setback, "deepened the foundations of our democratic polity" and its judgment should be respected by all.

In a brief address in Hindi and English, Singh also harkened back to his humble origins "an underprivileged child of partition" who "was empowered enough to rise and occupy high office".

He said he was confident about the future of India.

"I firmly believe that the emergence of India as a major powerhouse of the evolving global economy is an idea whose time has come. Blending tradition with modernity and unity with diversity, this nation of ours can show the way forward to the world. Serving this nation has been my privilege. There is nothing more that I could ask for," he said.

The prime minister, who has helmed two successive UPA governments since 2004, said when he was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the nation, "I entered upon it with diligence as my tool, truth as my beacon and a prayer that I might always do the right thing".

"Today, as I prepare to lay down office, I am aware that well before the final judgment that we all await from the Almighty, there is judgment in the court of public opinion that all elected officials and governments are required to submit themselves to.

"As I have said on many occasions, my life and tenure in public office are an open book. I have always tried to do my best in serving this great nation of ours."

He said in the past 10 years of United Progressive Alliance rule, the country has "seen many successes and achievements that we should be proud of.

"Today, India is a far stronger country in every respect than it was a decade ago. I give credit for these successes to all of you. However, there is still vast latent development potential in our country and we must collectively work hard to realize it.

"As I leave office, my abiding memory will be the love and kindness that I have always received from you. I owe everything to this country, this great land of ours where I, an underprivileged child of partition, was empowered enough to rise and occupy high office.

"It is both a debt that I will never be able to repay and a decoration that I will always wear with pride.

"I wish the incoming government every success as it embarks on its task and pray for even greater successes for our nation."