Breaking from protocol in a bold affirmation of allegiance, Ayodhya GST Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh has resigned to champion Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against criticisms from Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. The two-page missive to the Governor decries the Shankaracharya’s words as hurtful assaults on the CM’s integrity.
Emotion poured out as Singh, speaking to journalists, positioned his action within constitutional bounds. ‘We owe this government for its service to us. I won’t stay mute when my leaders are maligned,’ he stated, later weeping on a call to his spouse about the life-altering step.
Flashpoint was the Mauni Amavasya episode at Sangam Ghat. Swami Avimukteshwaranand charged that he was denied a ritual dip, with violence inflicted on his group. Administration clarified the preventive measures against stampede risks in the teeming religious site, noting disciples’ barrier breaches necessitated police dispersal—advising return on foot instead of chariot.
Contention over the Swami’s title legitimacy, sub judice in the apex court, fueled the fire. Singh lambasted the statements as ‘divisive commentary’ unfit for a figure of the Swami’s stature, vowing principled resistance.
Hot on the heels of Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri’s resignation—tied to UGC changes and similar affronts—this incident highlights a wave of discontent. For Yogi Adityanath’s regime, it underscores the potent mix of devotion and discord among officials, potentially reshaping narratives around leadership loyalty in Uttar Pradesh’s complex socio-political tapestry.