As farmers carried out their protest braving the chilly winters in Delhi against the Central farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that they have not only unchained farmers from several shackles but have also given them new rights and opportunities.

Addressing his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the prime minister said that the recent amendments have started to reduce the problems of farmers in a short span of time, citing the example of a Maharashtra farmer who used the provisions of the new laws to get the money guaranteed to him by a trader.

"Since ages, these demands of farmers which at one point of time or the other all political parties had promised to them, have now been fulfilled. After deep deliberations, Parliament recently passed farm reform laws," Modi said.

"These reforms have not only freed the farmers from various shackles, but have also given them new rights and opportunities. In such a short span of time, these rights have started reducing the problems of farmers," he added.

The comments from the prime minister comes at the backdrop of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, have crossed several hurdles to march to Delhi, gathering at the borders of the national capital as well as the Burari ground, determined to voice against the laws. They have gone through several adversities, including facing water cannons, teargas and batons from the police at Delhi and Haryana.

During his address, Modi touched upon various other topics ranging from the idol of goddess Annapurna, stolen in 1913 from Varanasi, being brought back to India from Canada, to emphasising that educational institutions should harness the strengths and talents of their alumni.

He also hailed the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor in November last year as historic.

The culture of India is gaining popularity all over the world, he noted.

"One such effort is by Jonas Masetti, who is based in Brazil and popularises Vedanta as well as the Gita among people there. He uses technology effectively to popularise our culture and ethos," Modi said.