Farmers, protesting against the new farm laws at various border points of Delhi, clanged thalis and shouted slogans on Sunday morning as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation during his weekly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast.

The protest took place at several spots -- Singhu border, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur districts in Punjab and BJP-ruled Haryana -- as the Prime Minister spoke against single-use plastics, espoused the benefits of an "Aatmanirbhar Bharat", and paid tributes to the Sikh personalities of the country.

Farmers during their PTI

Unlike his November address, the Prime Minister did not raise the issue of farmers, who have been protesting for a month at different borders of Delhi against three agri laws.

Modi said that people have supported the "vocal for local" campaign and asked manufacturers and industry leaders to ensure that world-class products are made in the country.

“The outgoing year saw the spirit of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ echo in society,” he said.

Noting that the issue of single-use plastic could not be discussed much due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Prime Minister asserted that ridding the country of single-use plastic is one of the resolutions for the New Year.

Modi also asked Indians to use Kashmiri saffron, saying that his government is working to make it a “globally popular brand”. The GI tag has given it a unique identity, he said.

During his address, he also paid tributes to several revered Sikh personalities, including sons of Guru Gobind Singh, saying their sacrifices helped keep our culture safe.

“We pay tribute to the brave Chaar Sahibzaade, we remember Mata Gujri, we recall the greatness of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. We remain indebted to these greats for their sacrifices and their spirit of compassion,” he said.

As the programme went on, at many places, farmers, who were joined by people from other sections of society, raised slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni went to the Makrauli toll plaza in Rohtak district along with a group of farmers to protest against the legislations.

“We are here to oppose Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’. We are registering this protest because the prime minister only says what he has to without listening to the voice of the people,” he said.

Farmers clang 'thaalis' at Tikri border during 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. PTI

The farmers had announced their plan of beating utensils last week. “Today again, PM Modi did ‘apne mann ki baat’ (spoke his own mind) and did not listen to ‘kisanon ke mann ki baat’ (farmers’ point of view). Farmers are demanding that the new laws should be repealed and the MSP (minimum support price) for crops be made a law,” BKU (Lok Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh Kumar Giri had told PTI at Noida on Friday, after Modi blamed the Opposition for politicising the farmers’ protest.

The farmers' "thaali protest" was announced last Sunday. “On December 27 when the Prime Minister gives his Mann Ki Baat radio address, farmers will say 'we are tired of listening to your Mann ki Baat, when will you listen to our Mann ki Baat?' So we will bang utensils so that the noise of his Mann ki Baat doesn't reach us,” Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The idea of banging plates was proposed by Modi himself in March, to show solidarity with frontline workers of Covid-19 during the initial phase of the lockdown.