World Famous award for World Famous PM: The jury is still out
I want to congratulate our PM, on winning the world famous 'Kotler Presidential Award'!In fact, it is so famous, it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company... As the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the Philip Kotler Presidential award snowballed, the professor himself has clarified, saying that no Indian approached him for the award to the Prime Minister. Speaking to India Today TV, Kotler said, "I absolutely endorsed the award."
According to the award citation, Modi was selected for his “outstanding leadership of the nation”. The PMO's tweet underscores this aspect: "His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country.’’
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday became a butt of ridicule for ‘winning’ a ‘world famous’ award given by a marketing firm.
According to the award citation, Modi was selected for his "outstanding leadership of the nation. The PMO's tweet further underscores this aspect: "His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country.’’
What followed were uncharitable remarks by Opposition leaders led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi; ostensibly they rushed to congratulate him but the mocking tone was apparent to all. And the social media, as is customary, joined in equal measure.
Gandhi said in zest: "I want to congratulate our PM, on winning the world famous 'Kotler Presidential Award'!
"In fact, it is so famous, it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company .... Event Partners Republic TV.’’
Union minister Smriti Irani, who had on Monday called the award a matter of great pride, reacted sharply: "Rich!!! Coming from a person whose illustrious family decided to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' on themselves."
But the social media could not hide its mirth with one person reminding others that it is no secret that the Kotler awards are given for marketing excellence to applicants who pay a fee as high as Rs 1 lakh!
The Wire news website was quick to point out that the award has emanated from the World Marketing Summit India, whose event in Delhi in December was co-sponsored by a public sector company, GAIL, and partnered by Patanjali and Republic TV.
The portal pointed out that WMS gave awards named after the celebrated marketing guru Philip Kotler to recognise achievements in advertising and marketing. It traced one Tauseef Zia Siddiqui, a point man for the award to Modi, who refused to share any details of the honour bestowed, saying "it's a very confidential award."
That was provocation enough for a CPM leader to have a dig: "My personal congratulations to Narendra Modi for winning the world's first-ever 'very confidential award.' No one else could have won this award."
The social media pounced on the organisers' claim that "it is a very confidential award" with all sorts of taunts. One Koomar Shah stringed together all that concerns the PM and is confidential. "Kotler Award - Confidential
PM's Degree - Confidential
Rafale price - Confidential
Black money list - Confidential
Unemployment data- Confidential
Modi Sarkar in 2014 - Over Confident
But that did not stop Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting calling it "a momentous achievement, and a proud day for all Indians." HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said: "This is yet another global recognition of @narendramodi ji's dynamic leadership" in getting award for "outstanding leadership and selfless service."
Within no time, BJP leaders like Piyush Goyal and former chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Raman Singh congratulated the PM over social media. Goyal even listed six "prestigious accolades" Modi has accumulated from the international community since becoming prime minister "for various reforms under his leadership such as Digital India, Swachh Bharat and Make in India initiatives.