The row between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has escalated with the resignation of an Ayodhya-based bureaucrat, who said he stepped down in support of the chief minister, the Prime Minister and the Constitution.
The controversy began earlier this month after the Shankaracharya alleged that he and his supporters were prevented from taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Magh Mela. The administration, however, said his chariot procession was stopped to prevent a possible stampede in the crowded area and that he was asked to proceed on foot like other devotees.
Calling the episode an “insult”, the Shankaracharya launched a protest, leading to a sharp exchange of remarks between him and the chief minister. Without naming him, Yogi Adityanath cautioned against figures like ‘Kalanemi’—the demon from the Ramayana who disguised himself as a saint to deceive Lord Hanuman—comments widely seen as a reference to the seer.
The Shankaracharya responded by saying Yogi Adityanath, as a politician, should focus on governance rather than religious discourse. “A chief minister should talk about education, health, law and order and the prosperity of the state. Matters of religion should be left to religious leaders,” he said.
He also criticised the University Grants Commission’s newly notified framework to address grievances, particularly those of SC, ST and OBC students. Opponents have argued that the move could lead to discrimination against general category students.
“No caste is inherently unjust,” the Shankaracharya told IANS. “By pitching one caste against another, you are taking a misguided step. This could cause great harm to Hinduism. The law should be repealed.”
The standoff took a political turn on Tuesday when Ayodhya Deputy GST Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh resigned, saying he could not tolerate what he described as an insult to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other constitutional authorities.
“I have resigned in support of the government, the chief minister, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Constitution and democracy, and in keeping with service rules,” Singh said. He alleged that personal and divisive remarks had been made against the chief minister.
“This government is my annadata. I am indebted to it. Yogi Adityanath is a democratically elected chief minister, and I cannot tolerate this insult,” Singh added. Singh said he was also hurt by the political debate around the UGC issue and plans to take up social work after his resignation is formally accepted.
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