NEW DELHI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday again defended the new agriculture laws as farmers continued to stage protests in and around the capital city.

During a function in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, "New agricultural reforms have given farmers new options and new legal protection and at the same time the old system also continues if someone chooses to stay with it."

This is the second straight day that Modi has been speaking in support of the recently passed farm laws.

On Sunday Modi defended the new farm laws in his monthly radio address -- Mann Ki Baat (straight talk from the heart).

Meanwhile, reports said over the last 24 hours, the Indian home minister has held a series of meetings with his cabinet colleagues over the farmer protests.

The federal government has already invited protesting farmers on Thursday for a second round of talks. The first round has been inconclusive.