New Delhi [India], June 9: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign on Monday, announcing an ambitious target of planting over 70 lakh trees this season across the capital.
Speaking to the media, CM Gupta expressed her satisfaction with the growing support from government departments and schools for the second phase of the tree-planting initiative. “We are requesting every individual and social organisation to plant at least one tree in the name of Mother Nature and Earth. This is a collective mission to make Delhi greener and healthier,” she said.
Sharing glimpses of the event on her official ‘X’ handle, the Delhi CM mentioned she planted a vermilion (sindoor) plant in honour of her mother. The plant, she said, symbolises the valour, honour, and self-confidence of Indian women. “This tree will remind us of the heroic saga of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and our commitment to building a greener, cleaner, and compassionate Delhi,” she wrote.
Gupta also credited the campaign to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that India has entered a “new era of environmental awareness,” and lauded the national initiative as a reflection of the country’s sustainable development mindset.
Her cabinet colleague, Ashish Sood, was also present at the plantation drive.
However, the Delhi CM did not shy away from criticizing the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. She accused them of consistently opposing central government schemes. “The previous Delhi government had issues with any scheme bearing the Union Government’s name—be it the Ayushman Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, or Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. They never supported these initiatives, even when they were meant for the public good,” she said.
Calling the campaign a “social drive” with no political motive, she questioned the former government’s resistance: “What was the harm in planting one tree in the name of our motherland?”
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, first launched by PM Modi, encourages people across the country to plant a tree in honour of their mothers, symbolising a tribute to Mother Earth and a step towards environmental conservation.