Representative image for mangoes.
Credit: iStock Photo
Lucknow: Known as the ‘Mango Man’ of India, Padmashree Haji Kalimullah Khan, who has developed as many as 300 varieties of mangoes in his orchard at Malihabad near Lucknow, has named his latest variety of mango after defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Khan said that he named his new variety of Mango after Rajnath, who was also a Lok Sabha member from Lucknow, after being inspired by the success of ‘’Operation Sindoor’’ during which Indian forces launched precision strikes at the terror hubs inside Pakistan to avenge the killing of 26 tourists at Pahalgam by Pak sponsored terrorists.
‘’Rajnath Singh had a crucial role in the Operation Sindoor,’’ he said, adding that he wanted Singh to be remembered in the world and hence named his mango after him.
Khan said that the new variety named after Singh also resembles his physique. ‘’This variety of mango is ten inches long and weighs around 700 grams. It’s weight will increase further in the days to come…Singh is also tall’’ he said.
Khan has hung a banner containing Rajnath Singh’s name on the mango tree. ‘’This new variety took eight years to develop,’’ he added.
Khan had earlier also named his mangoes after leading personalities. He had earlier named the new varieties developed by him after union home minister Amit Shah. He also named his new varieties of mangoes after Aishwarya Rai, and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. .
A Padmashree awardee, Khan has developed as many as 300 varieties of mangoes in the past 60 years and people from far off places visit Malihabad to see his orchard.
Heaping praise on Rajnath Singh, he said that the former was a humble person and ws easily accessible to all.
Khan slammed Pakistan for aiding and abetting cross border terrorism in India and blamed it for the Pahalgam killing. He, however, said that peace not war was the solution to the problems. ‘’Every problem can be resolved through peaceful negotiations,’’ he remarked.
He said that he wanted to see India as the largest mango exporting country in the world.