After Rahul's Jibe, Marketing Guru Kotler Congratulates PM Modi

With Congress president Rahul Gandhi mocking the prime minister for being awarded the Philip Kotler award, the marketing guru took to Twitter to congratulate Narendra Modi for the honour and hailed his "selfless service towards India".

"I congratulate PM @narendramodi for being conferred the first ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. He has been selected for his outstanding leadership & selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy," Kotler said on Twitter Tuesday.

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 & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company.

Event Partners: Patanjali & Republic TV :)https://t.co/449Vk9Ybmz

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 15, 2019

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

He said Modi's efforts in India have resulted in "extraordinary economic, social and technological advances". "His winning the first Philip Kotler Presidential award raises the bar for future recipients," the marketing guru said.

I congratulate PM @narendramodi for being conferred the first ever Philip Kotler Presidential Award. He has been selected for his outstanding leadership & selfless service towards India, combined with his tireless energy. (1/2)

— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019

The Award Citation says:

“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.” pic.twitter.com/otcI8BmWmk

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 14, 2019

Gandhi earlier took a dig at Modi saying he wanted to "congratulate" him on winning the "world famous" Philip Kotler Presidential award. "In fact it's so famous it has no jury, has never been given out before & is backed by an unheard of Aligarh company. Event Partners: Patanjali & Republic TV :)," he said on Twitter.

PM @narendramodi received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award.

The Award focuses on the triple bottom-line of People, Profit and Planet.

It will be offered annually to the leader of a Nation. pic.twitter.com/RPoQrB56e6

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 14, 2019

2/2 @narendramodi's efforts have resulted in extraordinary economic, social and technological advances in India. His winning the first award raises the bar for future recipients.

— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019

I was involved in a misunderstanding with the Indian media. Confusion over the award presented to India's PM @narendramodi by my friend Jag Sheth and The World Marketing Summit. Here's my @marketingjour interview to clear up the confusion: https://t.co/rHmnv86QU2

— Philip Kotler (@kotl) January 15, 2019

In a sharp retort, Union minister Smriti Irani, while tagging Gandhi's tweet, suggested that unlike Prime Minister Modi, who was awarded by someone else, Gandhi family members had conferred themselves the country's top civilian honour-Bharat Ratna.

"Rich !!! Coming from a person whose illustrious family decided to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' on themselves," she tweeted.

Rich !!! Coming from a person whose illustrious family decided to confer the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on themselves. https://t.co/ipzyRrXNiX

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 15, 2019

Modi had on Monday received the first-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award here.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the award focuses on the triple bottom-line of 'people, profit and planet' and will be offered annually to the leader of a nation.

Philip Kotler is a professor of marketing at Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. -