Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders today 'congratulated' Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo)
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders today congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for winning the "world famous Kotler Presidential Award". Perhaps not quite in the same spirit as several BJP leaders and ministers have over the past two days.
"I want to congratulate our PM, on winning the world famous "Kotler Presidential Award"! In fact it's so famous it has no jury, has never been given out before and is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company," the Congress president tweeted, tongue firmly in cheek.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, also a sharp Modi critic, re-tweeted Rahul Gandhi with his own message showering PM Modi with "koti-koti badhai" for the "unparalleled, unusual and amazing" award.
परम आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी को अद्वितीय अनोखा, अनूठा और अद्भुत अवार्ड मिलने पर कोटि-कोटि बधाई।???????????????????? https://t.co/A4XFSXqnjE
- Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 15, 2019
Soon it was Left leader Sitaram Yechury's turn: "My personal congratulations to Narendra Modi for winning the world's 'first-ever' 'very confidential award'. No one else could have won this award."
He posted the tweet with a link to a story on The Wire investigating the award and questioning who was on the jury. It quoted one Tauseef Zia Siddiqui, calling himself the representative of Philip Kotler, as saying: "It's a very confidential award".
An image put out by the government shows PM Modi receiving the "first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award" from members of the World Marketing Summit India, which is known to give awards in marketing and management. The award focuses on the triple bottom-line of 'People, Profit and Planet', which will be offered annually to the leader of a nation," a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement said.
"His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country," said the citation.
Smriti Irani, who was among the first to congratulate the Prime Minister on receiving the award, hit back at Rahul Gandhi, saying: "Rich !!! Coming from a person whose illustrious family decided to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' on themselves."
In her congratulatory tweet on Monday, she had called the award a matter of great pride for India.
Congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji for receiving first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award. It is a matter of great pride for India that the award focusing on triple bottom-line of People, Profit & Planet is conferred to our PM for outstanding leadership & selfless service.
- Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 14, 2019
Other ministers described the award as a "proud day for all Indians" and an acknowledgement of outstanding leadership.
Congratulations to PM @NarendraModi for being awarded the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award, recognising the success of various reforms undertaken under his leadership such as Digital India, Swachh Bharat, and Make in India initiative pic.twitter.com/rEEJjzcDbg
- Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 14, 2019
Many congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji for being felicitated by Philip Kotler Presidential Award.
- Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) January 14, 2019
It is an acknowledgement of his selfless service & outstanding contribution to India's holistic development.
This is a momentous achievement, and a proud day for all Indians! pic.twitter.com/Nw9iIAhV0z
Congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji on being awarded with Philip Kotler Presidential Award.This award is yet another global recognition of his outstanding leadership, selfless service to the nation & unwavering commitment for the welfare of every Indian . pic.twitter.com/X5oqb6wzll
- Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) January 14, 2019
Heartiest congratulations to our visionary Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on being awarded the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award for his phenomenal leadership and selfless service to the Nation. A matter of great pride for every Indian. #NewIndia @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/lKGniih4rM
- Rajiv Pratap Rudy (@RajivPratapRudy) January 14, 2019
The award is named after Philip Kotler, who founded the World Marketing Summit Group.
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