Bhutan gives its highest civilian award to PM Narendra Modi

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, December 17

Bhutan has conferred its highest civilian award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “unconditional friendship and support Modiji extended over the years and particularly during the pandemic”, said a social media post from the Bhutan Prime Minister.

“Overjoyed to hear His Majesty (Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck) pronounce Modiji’s name for the highest civilian decoration, Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo,” said the post on Bhutan conferring its ‘Order of the Dragon King’ on a foreign citizen.

The award was instituted in 2008 and is conferred sporadically on people who have made a significant contribution to society in Bhutan.

In the past the award has been given to ‘The Royal Grandmother’ Kesang Choeden Wangchuck in the year of its institution. Since then it has been awarded to Chief Abotts such as Ngawang Jigme Chhoedra and Thrizur Tenzin Dendup.

The development comes two months after China and Bhutan signed an MoU on a three-step roadmap for expediting their boundary negotiations which may also include discussions on Doklam.

China has settled its land borders with 12 out of 14 land neighbours with India and Bhutan the only standouts. The perception is that Bhutan had earlier stalled border talks with China in solidarity with India.

At the same time, Bhutan signalled solidarity with its South Asian nations on December 16 Victory Day when its military contingent marched along with its counterparts from India and Russia in Dhaka where President Ram Nath Kovind was the sole invited head of state. While the US had also sent a token military team, China was the sole significant country whose presence in Dhaka was low key.