Latest news with #AmritMahotsav
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttar Pradesh govt says 37.21 cr saplings planted in a day during mega drive, target surpassed
The Uttar Pradesh government claimed that 37.21 crore saplings were planted in a single day on Wednesday under the mega plantation drive 2025, surpassing the target of 37 crore for the campaign by over 21 lakh. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath clicks selfie after planting a sapling under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, in Ayodhya on Wednesday. (PTI PHOTO) Chief minister Yogi Adityanath planted saplings in Ayodhya, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur, along with forest minister Arun K Saxena and head of forest force Sunil Chaudhary. 'It brings happiness to say Uttar Pradesh has planted over 37-crore saplings in one day. This is not merely a number; it reflects our collective sensitivity, responsibility, and gratitude towards nature,' Adityanath said after the drive. A total of 37,21,40,925 saplings were planted across 5,89,705 plantation sites in 18 divisions. Adityanath planted banyan, neem and peepal saplings at Triveni Vatika on the banks of the Saryu river in Rampur Halwara (Ayodhya), dedicating them to Lord Ram, Mother Earth and mother. He later inaugurated Harishankari Vatika along the expressway in Kerma village (Sathiyaon block, Azamgarh), and also planted saplings at Chiluatal on the premises of the fertilizer factory in Gorakhpur. He extended gratitude to the people of Uttar Pradesh for the unprecedented success of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' campaign. He expressed appreciation for the contributions of every citizen, public representative, officer, employee, student, volunteer, farmer, and family who participated in this noble initiative. 'You have proven that with pure intentions and firm resolve, no goal is beyond reach,' he added. He appealed to the people of the state to nurture the sapling they planted as a family member, saying, 'Only when each tree survives and thrives, will this mission find its true meaning.' 'It was the Prime Minister's visionary appeal that gave emotional and cultural depth to this initiative, transforming it into a true Amrit Mahotsav,' he said. Governor Anandiben Patel also participated by planting a Triveni (Peepal, Banyan, and Neem) sapling in Barabanki and launching a short film, along with distributing Anganwadi kits, nutrition bundles and certificates. Uttar Pradesh assembly speaker Satish Mahana planted a Champa sapling on the state legislature building campus. Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak planted a sapling in the Sugamau forest area of Kukrail range with divisional forest officer Sitanshu Pandey. Key ministers joined the campaign across districts, including deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya who participated in Meerut. Before planting a sapling, Adityanath offered prayers at the Ram Lalla and Hanumangarhi temples in Ayodhya. The chief minister visited the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, performed aarti and greeted devotees on exiting the premises. He also circumambulated the temple complex to review the progress of the Ram temple construction and offered prayers at the Ram Darbar. For his part, Brajesh Pathak, after planting a sapling, said, 'There is no difference between mother and nature. Our mother is nature and nature is our mother.' The plantation began at 6 am with geo-tagging of all 5,89,705 plantation sites in 18 divisions of the state. Pictures were clicked at all sites and submitted to the central command centre. A total of 52.43 crore saplings were prepared in nurseries across the state for the mega exercise. At 7 am, over 16.05 lakh saplings were planted. The number increased to 3.52 crore by 8am and reached 4.91 crore at 9am. By 10 am, 7.50 crore saplings were planted. The count reached 12.85 crore saplings by 11am. 'This year, we raised the target by two crore saplings,' said Arun Kumar Saxena, UP's forest, environment and climate change minister. In 2024, Uttar Pradesh planted 35 crore saplings. Cabinet ministers were leading plantation drives in their respective districts. 'Plantation has had a major impact upon ecology in the state. Growth in the number of saplings has not only increased green cover but other indicators too went up,' said Deepak Kumar, the state's nodal officer for the plantation campaign. The carbon stock in forests in India went up by 1.13% between 2021 and 2023, said the State of Forest Report by Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, while in Uttar Pradesh this rise was 2.46%, said Kumar, sharing statistics of green growth in the state. Lucknow zoo director Aditi Sharma planted a sapling on the zoo campus along with children who came to visit the campus during the day.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘This feat shows our collective sensitivity & gratitude towards nature'
1 2 Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended heartfelt gratitude to the people of Uttar Pradesh for the unprecedented success of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. He said it was a matter of immense pride and emotion that over 37 crore saplings were planted in a day under the mega plantation drive. "This is not merely a number; it reflects our collective sensitivity, responsibility, and gratitude towards nature," the CM said. He expressed appreciation for the contribution of every citizen, public representative, officer, employee, student, volunteer, farmer, and family who participated in this noble initiative. "You have proven that with pure intentions and firm resolve, no goal is beyond reach," he added. Terming the success not just Uttar Pradesh's but a triumph of the nation's environmental consciousness, Yogi credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inspiring the campaign. "It was the Prime Minister's visionary appeal that gave emotional and cultural depth to this initiative, transforming it into a true Amrit Mahotsav," he said. Concluding his message, the CM appealed to the people of the state to nurture the sapling they planted as a family member, saying, "Only when each tree survives and thrives, will this mission find its true meaning."
Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Accept preamble values, 90% of problems will be resolved, says Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Saturday said 90 per cent of the country's problems will be resolved forever if the values of the Constitution and its preamble are accepted. Addressing an event in Nagpur, Fadnavis said since the essence of the Constitution is reflected in its preamble, the state government has decided that the preamble should reach students in all schools and colleges during the 'Amrit Mahotsav' of the Constitution. 'If we accept the values of the constitution and its preamble, 90 per cent of the country's will be resolved forever. Therefore, the constitution and preamble are of utmost importance,' he said at the launch of the Constitution Preamble park and unveiling of BR Ambedkar's statue at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law in Nagpur. Fadnavis's Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday that 'socialism' and 'secularism' were Western concepts, and these words have no place in Indian civilisation. Saying these words should be struck down from the Constitution, he said, 'How can I be secular? I am a hardcore Hindu. A Muslim person is a hardcore Muslim person. How can he be secular?' He was speaking after launching in Assam a book titled 'The Emergency Diaries: Years That Forged a Leader' which is based on first person anecdotes from associates who worked with Narendra Modi, then a young RSS pracharak, and used other archival material. The book chronicles the 1975-77 Emergency era and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's role in the 'resistance movement'. Sarma maintained that the Indian concept of secularism is not about being neutral, but it is about being 'positively aligned'. The word 'secularism' was inserted by people who view it from the Western angle, and it needed to be struck off from the Preamble, Sarma added. The Assam Chief Minister also claimed that the Western concept of socialism was also imposed by Gandhi. Indian economic principle was based on 'trustee-ship' and helping the marginalised. 'The BJP didn't have to even demolish this concept of socialism. PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh did it for the Congress,' he said. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Learn to give proper value to human lives: HDK
Mandya: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday expressed anger against govt, advising them to learn to give proper value to human lives. Expressing sorrow over two incidents of the death of girl children in Mandya, Kumaraswamy blamed govt's negligence for the death of a girl in the hospital and the traffic police's carelessness, which led to another girl's death. He expressed grief at the MySugar School's Amrit Mahotsav programme on Saturday. Criticising govt, he said, "It is not possible to measure every life with money as govt is compensating for the death of humans by providing money." The Union minister became emotional and was in tears while addressing the gathering during the event. Speaking about death, Kumaraswamy said emotionally, "Before I die, I will repay your debt. I don't need recognition for my achievements. The place you have given me in your hearts is enough. May this love and trust always remain with me".
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Litigants as important as bar and bench: Yogi
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that in the rule of law, the litigant is as important as the bar and bench. He also highlighted the state government's efforts to strengthen judicial infrastructure, stating that ₹1700 crore has been approved and allocated for integrated court complexes in seven UP districts. In addition, he expressed empathy for advocates, noting that despite working under difficult conditions—such as broken chambers or even under trees—they continue to strive for justice. The chief minister was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the advocate chambers and parking building, constructed at a cost of ₹680 crore within the Allahabad high court premises in Prayagraj, in the presence of Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai. Describing Prayagraj as the land of India's heritage, he said since ancient times, it has drawn national and global attention not only for the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati but also as the land of religion, knowledge and justice in modern India. Prayagraj is also the land of the Mahakumbh, he said, adding that by taking a holy dip at the Sangam here, every Indian has felt a deep connection with their heritage and a sense of pride. During the event, he recalled the 2017 programme organised at the Allahabad high court, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised that the first condition of good governance is the rule of law. Highlighting the significance of the day, the chief minister said, 'Today marks the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. This year is also the Amrit Mahotsav year of the implementation of the Constitution of India.' Although multilevel parking structures have been built, they often remain unused, he said. He urged urban bodies to allow commercial use of some parking space to ensure success. He cited the example of a multilevel parking in Gorakhpur, built six years ago, which initially failed. 'I suggested that the top two floors be converted into commercial spaces to make it operational. As soon as this was implemented, the entire complex started getting fully occupied. People who earlier used to park their vehicles on the streets now park inside the complex and enjoy the available facilities,' he added. Praising the excellent arrangements, Adityanath said that along with multi-level parking, the facility also includes advocate chambers, a cafeteria, a modern kitchen and conference amenities. 'This can serve as a new model for infrastructure development.' Adityanath noted that when his government took office, 10 districts in U.P. did not have district courts. 'At times, either the Chief Justice or we did not approve the proposed designs. Eventually, we instructed the executing agencies to create a model that could serve as a standard. Along with integrated court complexes, provisions for parking and advocate chambers were included. Of the proposals we submitted, approvals have been received for seven districts from here, and ₹1,700 crore has already been released for those. The court cases for the remaining three districts have also been resolved, and we will provide them with similar facilities in their respective districts.' He said once the integrated court complex is constructed, litigants will have access to all judicial services under one roof, including chambers and parking for advocates, as well as housing facilities for judicial officers. He emphasized that this initiative to build quality complexes will become a model. Both the central and state governments are committed to providing maximum facilities at district courts and addressing advocates' challenges, he said. Advocate Fund amount increased The chief minister highlighted that the Advocate Fund amount has been increased from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, and the age limit raised from 60 to 70 years. Additionally, a separate corpus fund of ₹500 crore has been established. In case of an accident involving an advocate, the trustee committee will utilize this fund to support the affected family. New advocates are also receiving assistance for journals, magazines, and books during their first three years. He stated that such excellent infrastructure will accelerate the pace of justice delivery and add a new dimension to progress. He recalled the successful Mahakumbh held in Prayagraj earlier this year, which attracted over 66 crore devotees from across India and abroad. The Allahabad high court played a significant role in efficiently managing the event, enhancing Prayagraj's stature, he noted. He said that if everyone fulfills their responsibilities in line with the spirit of the Constitution envisioned by Baba Saheb, meaningful results can be achieved. The chief minister stated that the multilevel parking and advocate chambers have been constructed in an excellent manner. He assured that any funds required for their expansion will be made available soon, enabling even better infrastructure in the land of justice, knowledge, and religion. This will ensure that litigants in Uttar Pradesh receive timely justice, he said. Supreme Court judges Justice Suryakant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice JK Maheshwari, Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Manoj Mishra, Allahabad high court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, Delhi high court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, UP advocate general Ajay Kumar Mishra, and others were present.
