With Modi’s first term as a Prime Minister coming to an end, Indians have seen and applauded his performance over 5 years. He has been praised for his infrastructure, defence as well as social developments including the measure taken to eradicate poverty and inculcating hygiene.

Along with a number of Indian praises, PM Modi has received a lot of international acclaim and moreover recommendations in his Prime Ministerial capacity.

Former US President Barack Obama in an article in TIME magazine had described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India’s reformer-in-chief. “Determined to help more Indians follow in his path, he’s laid out an ambitious vision to reduce extreme poverty, improve education, empower women and girls and unleash India’s true economic potential while confronting climate change,” Obama wrote. “Like India, he transcends the ancient and the modern — a devotee of yoga who connects with Indian citizens on Twitter and imagines a ‘digital India’.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “reputable political leader, who has already made a significant personal contribution to the promotion of the Russian-Indian cooperation.”

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott hailed India as “the emerging democratic superpower in Asia” and said the Australian government wanted to “crank up” the trade relationship between the two countries with “a comprehensive economic partnership agreement”. He described India as the world’s ’emerging democratic superpower’. John Kennedy, president of the United Indian Association of Australia, had said PM Modi is so popular because people in India want to see change and Indians believe he can deliver it.

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron had described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “man with a clear vision” and praised him for breaking the deadlock over the trade facilitation agreement (TFA) at the WTO.

UN Secretary-General appreciated his initiatives to increase the use of renewable energy sources (wind and solar) and to build new smart cities in the country. “I am happy that Prime Minister Modi has already set the target for solar and wind energy for India and I also commend his initiative to build smart cities,” he said.

World Bank Chairman Jim Yong Kim had said that Modi and his government are quickly putting in place the building blocks for even more rapid growth, streamlining the national regulatory structure, using public funds more efficiently and promoting social inclusion. He also congratulated PM Modi for his visionary steps towards ending poverty while tweeting, “Congratulations, @narendramodi, on one year of visionary steps toward ending poverty in #India. The world needs more leaders like you.”

Congratulations, @narendramodi, on one year of visionary steps toward ending poverty in #India. The world needs more leaders like you. — Archive: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim (@JimYongKimWBG) May 26, 2015

Japanese auto giant Suzuki Corp’s chairman Osamu Suzuki said Gujarat is superior in terms of infrastructure and administration. “India is becoming consolidated into one economic identity under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Melinda Gates, the Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has appreciated the pro-poor initiatives of Modi’s government, especially the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, for improving sanitation and cleanliness, and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, for financial inclusion.

Apart from Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations, international media has also praised the PM.

Chinese newspaper Global Times said Modi has the capacity to resolve major contradictions between the two Asian giants. “Modi is considered as a state leader with strategic insights. He may become a Nixon-style statesman because of his pragmatism and capacity to resolve major contradictions between China and India and to tackle the common challenges of development,” the article on Global Times said.

Rahul Gandhi has also had his share of ‘international appreciations’.

In what can be termed as utterly shameful for the Congress party, former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf in an interview to Tamil news channel, Thanthi TV favoured Congress President Rahul Gandhi for the post of India’s Prime Minister. On the question of ‘Does Rahul Gandhi sound better to you?’ Musharraf praised Gandhi scion and added, “He looks to be very good gentleman”.

Moreover, there seems to be a sustained campaign underway in Pakistan with a motive to put Congress in power. On March 2, in a TV debate on 92 News (Pakistani news channel), a panelist named Zafar Hilaly cursed the Modi government. However, what took many by surprise is the fact that he suddenly started praising the grand old party and further wished for its victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

There is a long list of well-wishers of the grand old party in Pakistan. Earlier, in a similar way, on a panel discussion on Samaa TV (Pakistani news channel), a panelist claimed that Congress party will secure victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Pakistani panelist on Samaa TV was spitting venom against India throughout the discussion but interestingly wished for the victory of the grand old party in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

It is crystal clear as to the kind of recognition PM Modi harbours and the kind of support Rahul Gandhi is getting along with their respective affiliations. Indian citizens can comprehend the kind of international endorsements a good leader should ideally have and sadly, Rahul Gandhi does not fit in the category.