New Delhi: Russia announced Friday that it will confer its highest civilian honour, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The honour comes barely a week after the United Arab Emirates awarded its highest civilian honour, the Zayed Medal, to Modi.
This is the fifth such award for Prime Minister Modi — he has already received honours from the governments of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Palestine.
However, after Russia’s announcement, questions have begun to be raised on the timing of these honours, given that India is in the middle of its general elections.
Why are such honours given?
The ‘Order of St Andrew the Apostle’ is the highest and the oldest state award of Russia, first established in 1698, then abolished under the Soviet Union, and re-instituted in 1998. Similarly, the ‘Order of Zayed’ is conferred on a person for furthering ties between both countries — strategic as well as economic.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also received both awards.
Such honours are given to leaders of other countries with whom the awarding country shares friendly ties and strategic linkages. In 2014, for example, then prime minister Manmohan Singh had been conferred the ‘Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers’ by Japan.
“When a country gives these awards to the leader of another country, it is a reflection of that individual’s personal effort in promoting and taking forward the ties between the countries. It is a recognition and it definitely helps in warming up the ties,” said Ashok Sajjanhar, former Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Sweden.
Phunchok Stobdan, a former Indian diplomat and expert on Eurasia, had a different take to Sajjanhar.
“Awards are tokenism and they do have a meaningful place in international relations and diplomacy. However, they do not have real impact. We need to be cautious and see what is being given to our adversaries, while we are being handed over these awards,” Stobdan said.
Also read: PM Narendra Modi awarded Seoul Peace Prize in South Korea
Questions over timing
Diplomats say that the practice is for such awards to be given when a head of government is visiting the awarding country. That’s why the timing of the honours to Modi by the UAE and Russia are being questioned.
“The timing is a little unusual. But these awards definitely create a positive vibe and creates a sense of appreciation,” said Rajiv Bhatia, distinguished fellow at the Mumbai-based foreign policy think-tank Gateway House.
According to a former diplomat, who refused to be named, awards are a way to divert the attention away from real issues. “These countries will tilt to India’s adversaries like Pakistan and China when need be,” the diplomat said.
Another former diplomat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that these awards were being now due to “massive lobbying” by the Indian missions and diaspora in those countries.
Also read: PM Modi inaugurates Indo-Russian joint venture, which will end Army’s long quest for rifles
These awards are not given for nothing. Now wants to buy some arms from Russia and theUSA doesn’t like the idea. Now Russia will everything to keep somebody firm about the deal.
Yea Russia broke the ‘Model code of Conduct’. EC should summon Putin
A person, who hasn’t had an iota of respect for his own civilians in the last five years, is getting the highest civilian award by others. This is going to be the century biggest joke. This shows utter desperation of Modi and his brigade of maniacs to hold the slipping ground. Putin tries to emulate Trump’s love for Netanyahu.
Haters gonna hate because they can’t receive such honors. Suck it up and move on you morons!
Next who knows it may be Nishan-e-Pakistan, top civilian award of our Neighbour. Pak PM Imran has declares it would be good if Modiji returns to power which is for sure in the backdrop of weak opposition. Modiji would be second from Gujarat who would get the Pakistani honour the other being Late PM Moraraji Desai. Noble Prize for peace is any way is waiting.
सब मिले हुएँ हैं जी। (all these world leaders are conspiring with Modi against India’s beloved prince).