UP GST official resigns amid Shankaracharya row, cites moral duty to PM and CM
India Today
The Shankaracharya controversy in Uttar Pradesh has spilled into administrative circles, with Ayodhya GST Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh resigning in support of PM Modi and CM Yogi, days after a Bareilly city magistrate quit and was suspended later.
The controversy surrounding Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has taken on a sharper political and administrative edge in Uttar Pradesh, with Prashant Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of GST posted in Ayodhya, resigning from service on Tuesday in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Singh said he was deeply hurt by what he described as “baseless allegations” made by the Shankaracharya against the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister over the past two days.
“In favour of the government and opposing Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, I have resigned. For the last two days, I have been deeply hurt by his baseless allegations against our CM and PM. I have certain moral responsibilities towards the government that pays my salary. When I saw that my CM and PM were being insulted, I sent my resignation papers to the Governor,” he told mediapersons.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Governor, Singh wrote that while the Constitution provides democratic methods of protest, using abusive language against a constitutional authority while seated on a palanquin was divisive and promoted caste-based animosity. He said such statements weakened social harmony and must be openly opposed.
The 48-year-old officer, a native of Sarwa village in Mau district, joined service with his first posting in Saharanpur and was transferred to Ayodhya on October 21, 2023. He said that until his resignation is accepted, he would continue discharging his official duties, and thereafter planned to take up social service.
According to sources, Singh became emotional while speaking to his wife after resigning, saying he had been unable to sleep for two nights. Referring to his two young daughters, he said he could not compromise on self-respect despite family responsibilities.
For years, Ram Setu has been invoked as "national heritage" in political discourse. But an RTI response reveals that, in official records, its status remains "nil".
Two LPG tankers tracked by India Today's OSINT team have taken the new route via Larak-Qeshm to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
What began as an abuse complaint has snowballed into a massive scandal involving rape allegations, hidden camera evidence, fraud and even murder claims, as more victims come forward against a Nashik godman.
From April 2026, the Delhi government is planning to recover over Rs 38,000 crore in dues to discoms.
The bill could increase total Lok Sabha seats to 816, reserving 273 for women, marking a major push to enhance female representation in Parliament based on the 2011 census.
Students told the Mahila Congress that the LPG shortage had disrupted their daily meals. They said the hostel administration had altered the menu, reduced one meal and discontinued evening tea in recent days.
India's consumer courts promise quick justice, but rising backlogs and staff shortages tell a different story. As cases pile up, the gap between what the system offers and what it delivers is widening.
A second patient died within 72 hours at RG Kar Hospital, with his family alleging that a lack of stretcher and basic facilities forced the critically ill man to walk 100 metres, leading to his death.
As Parliament prepares to bring amendments to the Transgender Act, activists warn the proposed changes risk rolling back years of hard-won rights.
A high-speed boat crash in the Maldives has left two Indians missing, including a celebrated rally figure, even as Gautam Singhania returns home. Search teams continue efforts amid mounting concern and unanswered questions.
A prominent seer, Pranavananda Swamiji, alleged that mutts backing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over the top post were denied any allocation in the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He reiterated his support for Shivakumar to take over as the chief minister.
India's original Dhurandhar, Ravindra Kaushik, rose from acting at college theatres, to infiltrating the Pakistan Army as a RAW Agent. He provided critical intelligence on Pakistani troop movements and the country's nuclear programme, but died a lonely death after his betrayal and subsequent capture by the ISI.