Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated the century of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, claiming it had filled the “emptiness” in his life by providing a way to “connect with the people”.

Modi, who has not addressed a single media conference as Prime Minister, claimed that after assuming the post, he had felt an “emptiness” in his life because of the loss of contact with the people, a void the radio address has filled.

“...When I was the chief minister of Gujarat, it was natural to meet and interact with the common people there.... But after coming to Delhi in 2014, I found that life here was very different... bound by circumstances, the rigours of security and time limits. In the initial days, something felt different, there was an emptiness,” Modi said, stressing that he had not left home 50 years ago for a situation where it would be difficult for him to be in touch with people.

“I could not live in separation from them (people). Mann ki Baat offered a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man,” he added.

He said the radio address was a “matter of faith, worship” for him, like an offering at “the feet of god, in the form of the people”.

The government had held a raft of events to mark the 100th episode of the radioaddress as a big achievement and the BJP used it to draw mileage in poll-bound Karnataka. BJP president J.P. Nadda and other party leaders organised crowds to listen to the address in Karnataka during their campaign.

Modi, however, claimed that Mann Ki Baat was apolitical, a “spiritual journey” for him, and that many issues raised in it had become “people’s movements”.

The Prime Minister sought to walk down memory lane by re-connecting with some of the people who had figured in the programme earlier. He dialled Jammu and Kashmir resident Manzoor Ahmed, who makes pencil slates and had featured in an earlier episode of Mann Ki Baat.

When Modi asked him about his work, Manzoorsaid it had increased manifold and that he was givingemployment to many more people now. He credited the Prime Minister for the achievement.

“Ever since you mentioned (me) in Mann Ki Baat, work has increased a lot, sir, and employment for others has also increased a lot,” Manzoor told Modi.

Modi then connected with Vijayshanti Devi from Manipur. Vijayshanti, who makes cloth from lotus fibre, also heaped praise on Modi, claiming that since he spoke about her, the demand for her product had increased many times.