Forget the bouquets and banners – Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wants trees for his birthday. On Thursday, the senior BJP leader and Agriculture Minister made a viral plea via X video, imploring supporters to plant a sapling on March 5 and snap a picture for him. This simple act, he believes, will render his birthday profoundly purposeful.
Drawing from personal philosophy, Chouhan questioned life’s true value: success lies in purposeful living, particularly safeguarding the environment – a mission he’s pursued daily for five years through consistent tree planting. He dismissed flashy political tributes and familial gifts, proposing a greener alternative that aligns with his values.
‘Plant a tree, upload or send its photo – no more, no less,’ he insisted. Elaborating on trees’ vital roles – oxygen for people, habitat for creatures, fodder for animals, earth’s jewels – Chouhan positioned afforestation as humanity’s noblest endeavor. He urged adopting this beyond his birthday, embedding it in personal traditions.
On a political front, Chouhan rebutted Youth Congress agitators at the AI Summit, affirming PM-led farm deals as farmer-friendly. As a farmer-minister, he exposed opposition’s ‘daily lies’ and decried their provocative nudity display as anti-national.