Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on 5 June planted a sapling in New Delhi on the occasion of World Environment Day, reaffirming the party's support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign. Nabin urged every Indian to participate in the initiative, calling it a generational responsibility.

Who Joined the Drive

Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra, BJP Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj, and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Chahal accompanied Nabin at the tree-plantation event. The leaders collectively highlighted afforestation as a cornerstone of environmental conservation.

What Nabin Said

Addressing reporters, Nabin said, 'On the occasion of World Environment Day, we have continued the tradition of planting trees every year. The Prime Minister has transformed it into a people's movement. When he called upon citizens to plant 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' he connected people across the country with this initiative. I believe that all citizens will join this campaign and plant trees in memory of their mothers.'

He added, 'Through the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has connected every citizen with the cause of environmental protection. I appeal to all people that if each one of us plants a tree, we will not only protect our own lives but also secure the future of the coming generations.'

Expressing concern over the pace of global environmental degradation, Nabin said the campaign represents 'a significant step towards making the country greener, healthier, and more sustainable.'

The Campaign in Context

The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative was launched by Prime Minister Modi with the stated aim of drawing every citizen into environmental action by attaching the symbolic act of tree-planting to maternal respect — a deeply resonant cultural value in India. The campaign has since seen participation from government officials, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens across states.

This comes amid growing global anxiety over climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. India has set ambitious targets for increasing forest and tree cover as part of its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

World Environment Day: Background

World Environment Day is observed every year on 5 June under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Its origins trace back to the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972 — a landmark moment in international ecological governance. The first formal observance took place in 1973.

Today, the occasion mobilises more than 150 countries through activities ranging from tree-plantation drives and beach clean-ups to policy forums and educational programmes. Each year, a host country is designated and a specific theme draws attention to a pressing environmental concern.

As political leaders and institutions mark the day with symbolic gestures, environmentalists and civil society groups continue to stress that sustained policy action — not one-day campaigns — will determine whether India meets its long-term green targets.