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'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' takes root in UK: PM Modi gifts tree to King Charles III; tree to be planted in autumn

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a tree sapling to King Charles III during a visit to the monarch’s Sandringham Estate on Thursday, as part of his “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative promoting environmental consciousness in tribute to mothers.

The Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting in a statement, noting that “during their time together, His Majesty was given a tree to be planted this Autumn, inspired by the environmental initiative launched by the Prime Minister.”

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri said the sapling will be planted on the estate during the upcoming planting season. The gifted tree, a Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’, commonly known as the Sonoma dove tree, is an ornamental species admired for its early and abundant flowering. Its distinctive white bracts resemble fluttering handkerchiefs or doves, making it a visual spectacle in late spring.

PM Modi and King Charles are known to share a long-standing interest in holistic approaches to environmentalism, with Yoga and Ayurveda expected to have figured in their conversation.

The royal audience came after Prime Minister Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met at Chequers, where the two leaders finalised the much-anticipated India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement ( CETA ) aims to boost bilateral trade and investment.

“At Chequers, PM Keir Starmer and I saw an exhibition which gave a glimpse of the strong economic linkages between India and the UK. With the signing of CETA, these linkages will rise manifold,” PM Modi said.

He also met business leaders and participated in a cricket interaction with players from Buckinghamshire Street Cricket Hubs, handing out a signed bat from India’s T20 World Cup-winning team.

PM Modi will next travel to the Maldives, where he is the Guest of Honour for the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
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