I wear 140cr Indians' trust as shield: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday the trust reposed in him by crores of people was his protective shield against the "lies, allegations and abuses" of his critics, as he launched a stinging counterattack on the Opposition over its bid to target him over the Adani-Hindenburg issue.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha, Modi said he had spent every moment of his life working for the nation and contrasted the "lost decade" of the Congress-led UPA rule with the ad- vent of "India's decade" under his government.

In his nearly 85-minute. speech, Modi said the world was looking at India with hope and positivity amid instability in many parts of the globe due to the once-in-a-century pan- demic in Covid-19 and conflicts. The trust of global institutions in India is due to the presence of a stable and decisive government, he stressed. This government has the strength to take decisions in national interest and carries out reforms not out of compulsion but conviction, he said.

"But some people who are neck deep in frustration can- not see India's growth story. They cannot see the achievements of 140 crore Indians," he said, targeting the Opposition. They failed when they were in power and they have failed in the opposition as well, Modi said in a swipe at the Congress which led by Rahul Gandhi has been unsparing in attacking the government over the Adani-Hinden- burg issue. "Some people have been living for their family. I live for 25 crore Indian families," he said. "The protective shield of the trust re- posed by 140 crore Indians cannot be breached by the weapons of lies," he added.