'Deeply Hurt By Allegations Against CM, PM': Ayodhya GST Commissioner Resigns Over Shankaracharya Row

Last Updated:January 27, 2026, 17:32 IST

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:

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:

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.

News politics 'Deeply Hurt By Allegations Against CM, PM': Ayodhya GST Commissioner Resigns Over Shankaracharya Row

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