'This is what PM's seniors in BJP think of him' Cong takes swipe at Joshi's 'vishwaguru' remarks

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi claimed that India is not a "vishwaguru" at present but should aspire to be one.
     Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh recalled the views of another BJP veteran L K Advani who said Modi was "a brilliant events manager" and said this is what the prime minister's seniors thought of him.
     "On April 20, 2026, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi dismissed claims of Mr. Modi being a Vishwaguru. On April 5, 2014, Shri LK Advani had said that 'Narendra Modi is not my protege but was a brilliant events manager'.
     "This is what the PM's seniors in the BJP think of him," Ramesh said in a post on X.
     "And then there was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who on March 10, 2002, had reminded the-then CM of Gujarat of his 'rajdharma'," the Congress leader also said in his post.
     Batting for greater promotion of Sanskrit and its use even in quantum computing, Joshi on Monday said India is not a "vishwaguru" (global teacher) anymore and this term should not be used.
     Asked about his views on India's role in the promotion of Sanskrit at a time when India has become a "vishwaguru" and is also emerging as an artificial intelligence (AI) hub, the former Union minister said, "The notion that we are a 'vishwaguru'... I personally believe nowadays that we should refrain from using this term.
     "We are not 'vishwaguru' at present. We should aspire to be 'vishwaguru'."
     He further said, "Indeed, we were 'vishwaguru' at one time. However, the reality today is that we are not."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)