Diplomats from 70 countries plant saplings at Central Ridge in Delhi

Diplomats from 70 countries planted saplings at the Central Ridge here on Thursday as part of the Delhi government’s 15-day ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday.

A total of 75 diplomats, along with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, attended the event.

Gupta, who planted a tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign initiative for Modi, said in a post on X that the participation of 75 diplomats from 70 countries has given the campaign a form of global cooperation and shared responsibility.

“Under the Seva Pakhwada being observed on the birthday of the visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign not only conveys the message of environmental conservation but it is also a symbol of gratitude towards our mother and the Mother Earth,” she said.

Delhi chief minister also fondly hugged and consoled a female diplomat who got emotional after planting a sapling in her mother’s memory, during the programme.

Gupta said the state government is moving forward with the resolve to plant 70 lakh trees this year and appealed to the people to join the campaign by planting trees in the name of their mothers.

Sirsa in a post on X said that the participation of foreign diplomats transformed the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ mission into a global event. “They planted a tree in the name of their mother and Mother Earth, thus honouring the shared commitment of our nations towards a greener, sustainable and better world,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 17 projects and schemes of the Delhi government on the birthday of PM Modi on Wednesday.

The BJP government will launch a total of 75 development initiatives and welfare measures in Delhi during the ‘Sewa Pakhwada’, which will conclude on October 2.