Congress Questions Seychelles' 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' Award Given to PM Modi

Congress Questions Legitimacy of New International Award

The Congress has sparked off a fresh political row by raising questions about the legitimacy of a new international award given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his recent visit to the Seychelles, he was awarded the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ by the government of the Seychelles for India’s work in climate resilience and maritime security. However, the opposition says the award is meaningless as it appears to have been created solely for the Indian leader.

PM Modi is first-ever recipient

The criticism gained steam after PM Modi became the first-ever recipient of the distinction. "The award had no past and was never awarded to anyone before," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said on social media platform X. Khera made a cutting comment that “the world has worked out Modi", implying that foreign governments are now creating special awards just to flatter the Prime Minister.

BJP hails the honour as recognition of India’s rising influence

The Congress may scoff at the honour as a contrived PR stunt, but the ruling BJP and its supporters are celebrating it as a major triumph for India’s foreign policy. India and Seychelles have a vital relationship in the Indian Ocean region, and the two countries cooperate closely on issues of coastal security, defence and securing shipping lanes.

Supporters say the award is a recognition of India’s emerging role as a trusted leader in the region and a reliable partner for smaller island nations.

International recognition and political debate

The BJP has not yet formally responded in detail to the opposition’s barbs, but the back-and-forth points to a familiar domestic battleground. When the prime minister returns from an overseas trip with a new civilian award, the opposition questions its worth, and the ruling party prances about it as a sign of India’s growing global influence.

The India-Seychelles relations continue to be strategically important.

India and Seychelles continue to enjoy strong strategic ties beyond the political debate, especially in the areas of maritime security, defence cooperation and regional stability in the Indian Ocean region. The latest honour has once again brought these bilateral relations into focus.