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Ayodhya’s GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh decided to hand in his papers, saying this was in “favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand”
In a video that is circulating on social media, Ayodhya GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh can be seen weeping and talking to his wife over the phone. (Image: @Benarasiyaa/X)
In a bizarre turn of events that had nothing, and yet everything, to do with the ongoing political controversy linked to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Ayodhya’s GST commissioner has resigned over feeling “deeply hurt and pained” by the Shankaracharya’s allegations against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ayodhya’s GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh decided to hand in his papers on Tuesday, saying his decision was in “favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand”.
“In favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, I have resigned. For the past two days, I was deeply hurt by his baseless allegations against our CM and PM…” Singh told news agency ANI.
Watch the video here:
#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP | On his resignation, Prashant Kumar Singh, GST Commissioner, Ayodhya, says, “In favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, I have resigned. For the last 2 days, I was deeply hurt by his baseless allegations against our CM… pic.twitter.com/ajPjHErYIQ— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2026
He claimed that he has resigned because he has “certain moral responsibilities towards the government that pays my salary”.
“When I saw that my CM and PM are being insulted, I sent my resignation papers to the Governor…” he added.
In a video that is circulating on social media, Singh can be seen weeping and talking to his wife over the phone informing her of his decision to resign and claiming that the “baseless allegations” were simply too much for his conscience to bear.
“Hello, I have handed in my resignation. Yes…I couldn’t tolerate the insult of those responsible for my livelihood, we should be grateful towards them,” he is heard talking over the mobile phone, all the while crying.
Watch the video here:
Ladies and gentleman, the match is now tied and will go to the super over! GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh in Ayodhya has resigned after he was hurt over Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s statement for UP CM Yogi Adityanath. pic.twitter.com/w6j8tHz7tY— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) January 27, 2026
Singh then looks at the person recording the video and says: “I am sorry, I was talking to my wife. I have two daughters. I haven’t slept properly for two days, and I was feeling deeply hurt and pained.”
WHAT IS THE MAGH MELA MUD-SLINGING ALL ABOUT?
The friction that triggered Singh’s resignation can be traced back to the Magh Mela controversy in Prayagraj. Trouble broke out on ‘Mauni Amavasya’ when the police allegedly prevented Avimukteshwaranand from taking a holy dip at the Sangam.
His camp claims that he was peacefully heading to the confluence on his palanquin when the police demanded he “get down” and walk, allegedly beating up his supporters when he refused. In response, he has been sitting in protest, eschewing both food and water while demanding an apology for the alleged police misconduct.
The administration, however, decided to counter this with a bit of legal paperwork, which brought round a wave of fresh criticism.
The mela authorities issued a notice asking the seer to explain exactly how he is using the prestigious title of “Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth”. They pointed out that the Supreme Court has a pending appeal and has ordered that no religious leader be consecrated to that post until the matter is settled.
The administration has maintained that he is displaying the title on his camp boards in “disregard” of the SC stay, effectively challenging his credentials.
WHAT IS THE POLITICAL REACTION TO THE CONTROVERSY?
With the assembly elections in the state scheduled for next year, politicians have not missed the opportunity to slam the BJP-led government for its “shameful” handling of the situation.
Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP is “deliberately insulting” shankaracharyas and “breaking long-established Sanatan traditions”. He said asking a holy man for identity proof is the “greater insult to Sanatan Dharma” and accused the government of using officials to harass those who do not walk the party line.
Even the Hindu Mahasabha has waded into the controversy, holding a meeting to condemn the “misbehaviour” and demanding a public apology. They, however, said this whole incident was a “conspiracy to tarnish the image” of Yogi Adityanath.
Former Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Uma Bharti also weighed in, but stressed that her remarks are no way in support of those who oppose Adityanath.
“Don’t harbour illusions that this is against Yogi; my statement is not against Yogi ji — I hold feelings of respect, affection, and goodwill toward him. However, I stand firm on this: the administration must maintain strict control over law and order, but demanding proof of someone’s status as Shankaracharya is a violation of propriety; only the Shankaracharya or the scholarly council can do that,” Bharti said in Hindi on X.
योगी विरोधी खुश फहमी ना पालें, मेरा कथन योगी जी के विरुद्ध नहीं है, मैं उनके प्रति सम्मान, स्नेह एवं शुभकामना का भाव रखती हूं किंतु मैं इस बात पर कायम हूं कि प्रशासन कानून-व्यवस्था पर सख्ती से नियंत्रण करे लेकिन किसी के शंकराचार्य होने का सबूत मांगना मर्यादा का उल्लंघन है, यह…— Uma Bharti (@umasribharti) January 27, 2026
Local officials, however, remain firm, insisting that their intervention was a matter of “public safety” to prevent a “stampede-like situation” at the mela. They said no saint was disrespected and that “the safety of devotees is our top priority”.
Ayodhya, India, India
January 27, 2026, 17:26 IST
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