King confers top Bhutan honour on PM: India is our true ally, friend

DESCRIBING PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi's leadership as "extraordinary and exemplary", Bhutan's King Khesar Namgyel Jigme Wangchuck said on Friday that with Modi at the helm, India's future is bright and "a successful India means a bright future for Bhutan".

- SHUBHAJIT ROY

Conferring the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's highest civilian decoration, on Prime Minister Modi the first forat Teneign leader to be felicitated real with this award drelthang, Thimphu, he said, "Nations need a great leader to progress and prosper, but such leaders are rare. A great leader must be compassionate, must care deeply for the country, and be willing to give everything in the service of the nation and people. Additionally, a great leader must be visionary and immensely capable and competent. A great leader must be powerful, not for the sake of power, but to effect change with the wholehearted support of the people."