Ayodhya GST officer quits, cites ‘moral duty’ after remarks by Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand against PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath | Lucknow News

Uttar Pradesh GST Deputy Commissioner in Ayodhya, Prashant Kumar Singh, has resigned citing moral reasons and support for CM Yogi Adityanath

AYODHYA: Prashant Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner of the Uttar Pradesh GST department posted in Ayodhya, has resigned from service, citing moral reasons and expressing support for chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking after tendering his resignation, Singh said he was deeply hurt by what he described as baseless allegations made by Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand against the UP chief minister and the Prime Minister. “In favour of the government and to oppose Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, I have resigned. For the last two days, I was deeply disturbed by the allegations against our CM and PM,” Singh said to news agency ANI.He said he had sent his resignation papers directly to the Governor, adding that his decision was driven by a sense of moral responsibility. “I draw my salary from the government. When I saw my CM and PM being insulted, I felt it was my duty to take a stand,” he said.Singh said he had been under mental stress for the past few days and took the decision after careful consideration. He added that once his resignation is accepted, he plans to engage in social work using his personal resources.The resignation follows a similar move by Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri, who stepped down yesterday. In his resignation letter to Governor Anandiben Patel and Bareilly DM Avinash Singh, Agnihotri sought the withdrawal of the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026. While the regulations aim to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges by mandating committees, helplines and monitoring mechanisms for SC, ST and OBC students, Agnihotri alleged they could lead to “atrocities against Brahmins” and spark social unrest. He also cited the alleged prevention of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand from taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the Magh Mela, saying such incidents reflected an erosion of faith, freedom of expression, and republican values.There has been no official word so far from the Governor’s office on the acceptance of Singh’s resignation