Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday appealed to people to plant as many saplings as possible to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations.Defence minister Rajnath Singh planting a sapling in Lucknow on the occasion of World Environment Day. (HT photo)On the occasion of World Environment Day, Singh, who reached the state capital on a three-day visit earlier in the day, planted a sapling at the Kasturba Park in Lucknow Cantonment as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign.Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak, BJP Lucknow district unit president Anand Dwivedi and other public representatives were also present there. Urging people to ensure environmental conservation and green development, the defence minister said trees are not only a means to maintain environmental balance, but are also the basis of human existence and prosperity.He said the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign being run on the prime minister’s call is a meaningful effort to express respect for nature and motherhood. Singh urged all citizens to join the drive and take a pledge to plant at least one sapling in their lifetime and take care of it.Later, the defence minister visited the residences of senior party office-bearers and workers to express condolences and pay tributes to the departed souls. Singh visited the residence of Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission vice-chairperson Aparna Yadav and expressed condolences on the demise of her husband Prateek Yadav who passed away last month.Singh also reached the residence of the late Ashok Motiani in Hind Nagar where he offered floral tributes. Thereafter, he visited the residence of the late Darshan Lal in Krishna Nagar and met the aggrieved family.At Badi Lal Kurti in the Cantonment area, Singh visited Mandal Adhyaksh Rupa Devi’s residence and paid tributes to her late husband. Later in the evening, he went to the residence of BJP MLA Neeraj Vora and attended a religious discourse there.