New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians and has ensured that he is never cut-off from people.

Sharing his vision with the countrymen in his monthly radio program of ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ which turned 100 on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ gave him a solution to connect with the people and was not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for him.

“Mann Ki Baat has become a festival that celebrates India's positivity and people. It is a reflection of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it Swachh Bharat, Khadi or Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the issues raised in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ became people’s movements,” he said.

“It’s a matter of fulfilment for me that in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ we have mentioned hundreds of inspiring stories of woman power of the country. Be it our army or the sports world, whenever I have talked about the achievements of women, it has been praised a lot. Like we discussed about the women of Deur village of Chhattisgarh. These women, through self-help groups, run campaigns to clean village squares, roads and temples,” he said.

“Similarly, the country also took a lot of inspiration from the tribal women of Tamil Nadu, who exported thousands of Eco-Friendly Terracotta Cups. In Tamil Nadu itself, 20 thousand women came together to revive the Nag river in Vellore. Many such campaigns have been led by our woman power and ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has served as a platform to bring their efforts to the fore,” he added.

The Prime Minister said: “Every month I read thousands of messages from the people of the country, every month I get to view one or the other wonderful manifestation of the countrymen. I see and feel the extremities of the penance and sacrifice of the countrymen. I just don't feel that I am even a little far from you.” /BI/