New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with his wife Savitri Singh planted a sapling at his residence on Saturday under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Today I paid tribute to my revered mother late Shri Gujarati Devi ji by planting a sapling at my residence under the #Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” Rajnath Singh wrote in a post on Instagram. “Planting trees not only protects nature but also nourishes our mother earth. All of you are requested to join the #Plant4Mother campaign to protect nature and actively contribute to make the movement of environmental protection more effective and dynamic,” he said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign in the state capital Bhopal on Saturday. Chief Minister Yadav announced that under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to plant 5.5 crore saplings across the state, out of which around 40 lakh saplings will be planted in Bhopal. Chief Minister Yadav said, “Following the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, citizens across the country are planting trees in honour of their mothers. Under this campaign, the Madhya Pradesh government has pledged to plant 5.5 crore trees across the state. This campaign is being run in various districts.” He said, “There is a plan to plant around 40 lakh saplings in Bhopal, out of which around 12 lakh saplings will be planted today. We are here with ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives. People from schools and other institutions have also joined this campaign.” Earlier, state Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had announced that 51 lakh trees would be planted in Indore district between July 7 and July 14 under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Indore Municipal Corporation will provide the saplings. He said that apart from this, the Municipal Corporation, Indore Development Authority and Forest Department will plant trees in various areas including city and village lands and BSF properties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign on World Environment Day. Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena were also present with PM Modi during the plantation. (ANI)