New Delhi (Sputnik) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reciept of the Philip Kotler Presidential Award is still stirring controversy.
The episode began on Monday afternoon, when the Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted to acknowledge receipt of the award. The PMO added that the award highlighted the triple-bottom-line focus of his government on People, Profit and Planet.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 14, 2019
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 14, 2019
The Philip Kotler Presidential Award adds to a long list of prestigious accolades received by PM @NarendraModi from the International community, reflecting the effectiveness of his style of governance and the far-reaching impact he has made throughout the globe
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) January 14, 2019
By Tuesday, politicking on the issue began with an attack on the award by the opposition Congress party president Rahul Gandhi. He questioned the veracity of the award and its selection process.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 15, 2019
Countering Rahul's attack, Modi's Minister Smriti Irani left no stone unturned in criticising Gandhi for questioning the Prime Minister's award.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 15, 2019
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"My organization, the World Marketing Summit (WMS), just presented India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the first Philip Kotler Presidential Leadership Award. The concept underlying the award is to honor a major public leader who has given new life to democracy and economic growth in that nation. A Kotler Leadership Award leader is one who believes in representative government and in social justice," Kotler said in an interview, which he tweeted.
— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019
"As you know, I have been very critical of the President of the United States. We are facing a crisis in our democracy. Across the world, we see a handful of leaders that have brought their countries to the global stage and provide real leadership," he added.
Many now doubt the veracity of the twitter user, who owned up as the conferrer of the award.
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) January 15, 2019
— Zoo Bear (@zoo_bear) January 15, 2019
In the interview tweeted by Philip Kotler, the marketing guru sounded regretful for the controversy created by the award bearing his name.
"You know India has a robust democracy. The opposition to the Prime Minister started criticizing the award which is regrettable since the award honours India in as much as it honours PM Modi," Kotler says in the tweeted interview.
However, there are also voices which warn the Indian Prime Minister to use due diligence before receiving any such recognition.
— Anshuman Mishra (@mphholdings) January 15, 2019