Modi awarded Seoul Peace Prize 2018
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded the Seoul Peace Prize 2018 for his contribution to high economic growth in India and world through ‘Modinomics’, the award citation stated.
His contribution to world peace, improving human development and furthering democracy in India, too, were the reasons for him getting the award, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Wednesday. PM Modi is the fourteenth recipient of this award.
The MEA statement says, “The Seoul Peace Prize Committee has decided to confer the 2018 Seoul Peace Prize on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in recognition of his dedication to improving international cooperation, raising global economic growth, accelerating the Human Development of the people of India by fostering economic growth in the world’s fastest-growing large economy and furthering the development of democracy through anti-corruption and social integration efforts.”
While awarding the prize, the Award Committee recognised PM Modi’s contributions to the growth of the Indian and global economies, crediting ‘Modinomics’ for reducing the social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor. The committee lauded his initiatives to make the government cleaner through anti-corruption measures and demonetisation. It also credited the Prime Minister for his contribution towards regional and global peace through a proactive foreign policy with countries around the world under the ‘Modi Doctrine’ and the ‘Act East Policy.’
Accepting the award, PM Modi expressed his gratitude for the prestigious honour and in light of India’s deepening partnership with the Republic of Korea. The award will be presented by the Seoul Peace Prize Foundation at a mutually convenient time, the MEA said.
Express pride over the award being given to PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah in a series of tweets said: “It is a matter of great joy and immense pride for 130 crore Indians that PM Narendra Modi has been honoured with the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize. PM Modi’s efforts towards boosting global cooperation and raising global economic growth have been noted by the awarding committee.”
“I am glad that the Award Committee has taken note of ‘Modinomics’ whose foundation is to further a spirit of equality and empowerment for all sections of society. Furthermore, the PM’s bold and innovative foreign policy including the ‘Act East Policy’ have been hailed,” Shah tweeted.
The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 24th Olympic Games held in Seoul, Republic of Korea – an event in which 160 nations from across the world took part, creating harmony and friendship and a worldwide atmosphere of peace and reconciliation. The Seoul Peace Prize was established to crystallise the Korean people’s yearning for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of the world.
The prize has been awarded to those who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and renowned international relief organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. After assessing over a hundred candidates proposed by over 1300 nominators from around the world, the Award Committee decided to bestow the Prize on PM Modi, calling him ‘the perfect candidate for 2018.
Earlier on October 3, PM Modi had received the United Nation’s highest environmental honour, the ‘Champions of the Earth Award’ from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for his “unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.” He was among the six winners who had got the award.
Source: The Indian Express
