Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 12: The Government of Spain has conferred the Great Cross of Civil merit on Dr Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy. This is the highest possible honour accorded by the Spanish Government to somebody who is not Head of State or Government. Dr Abdullah has been honoured for his efforts to promote sustainable economic development through the promotion of renewable energy.
The honour was received by Dr Abdullah from Gustavo de Aristegui, the Ambassador of Spain at a function in the Spanish Embassy. Dr Abdullah thanked the Spanish Government for conferring this honour on him. He accepted it on behalf of the people of India and hoped that one day he would be able to see his vision of every India household electrified become a reality.
The Spanish Ambassador recalled the major achievements in the renewable energy sector under the stewardship of Dr Farooq Abdullah.
The order of Spanish Civil Merit was created by Queen Isabel II in the XIX century to honour Spaniards and foreign citizens with exceptional qualities who have performed great services for their communities and contributed to a better understanding between nations.