‘Modi Has Outstanding Leadership, Tireless Energy’: Philip Kotler Backs Award To PM, Nips Controversy In The Bud

Following opposition jibes and expression of doubt over the legitimacy of the Philip Kotler Presidential Award conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (14 January 2019), Philip Kotler has himself come out and publicly endorsed it, reports OpIndia.

Kotler is a renowned marketing consultant and academic professor.

“Shri Narendra Modi is selected for his outstanding leadership for the nation. His selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy has resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in the country,” the award citation had read.

Soon after PM Modi was conferred the award, some media outlets began circulating claims that it had no significance and was reportedly not officially affiliated with Philip Kotler.

These allegations were also levelled by Congress president Rahul Gandhi via his Twitter account.

Following the controversy, Kotler, who currently teaches international marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, took to Twitter to endorse the award.

Apart from praising Modi on Twitter, Kotler stated that the award was conferred by his friend Jag Sheth and also mentioned the “misunderstanding” in the Indian media.

He also lauded Modi’s leadership skills in an interview in The Marketing Journal, stating that he was chosen for the award as he ‘stood highest’ in qualities such as believing in social justice and representative government, working toward a healthy business climate and trying to achieve the common good.

Earlier, Kotler had praised Modi when the latter won the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 by calling himself ‘high on Modi’.