Shankaracharya–Yogi row escalates as Ayodhya bureaucrat resigns in protest

The ongoing controversy between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath intensified on Tuesday after an Ayodhya-based senior bureaucrat resigned from his post, citing support for the chief minister, the Prime Minister and the Constitution.

The row began earlier this month during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, when the Shankaracharya and his followers alleged they were prevented from taking a holy dip at the Sangam. The administration maintained that his chariot procession was stopped to avoid a possible stampede in the overcrowded area, asking him to proceed on foot like other devotees.

Following the incident, sharp exchanges followed between the Shankaracharya and the chief minister. Yogi Adityanath, without naming him, warned against figures like ‘Kalanemi’, while the Shankaracharya responded by saying the chief minister, now a politician, should focus on governance and leave religious matters to seers.

The Shankaracharya also criticised the new University Grants Commission framework related to grievance redressal mechanisms, arguing that it could divide society and harm social harmony. He called for the withdrawal of the provisions, terming them misguided.

Amid the escalating dispute, Ayodhya GST Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh tendered his resignation, stating that he could not tolerate what he described as an insult to the chief minister and constitutional authorities. He alleged that divisive remarks had crossed limits and said he would take up social work after his resignation is accepted.