A high-profile resignation from Ayodhya’s GST department has ignited accusations of political maneuvering. Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh stepped down professing support for PM Narendra Modi, CM Yogi Adityya Nath, and the nation’s foundational principles. But Samajwadi Party’s Ravidas Mehrotra isn’t buying it, labeling it a sham to sidestep corruption inquiries.
Mehrotra’s scathing remarks came during an IANS interaction in Lucknow. He contextualized the event against Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand’s ongoing protest, where the revered figure has peacefully demonstrated for 10 days against government-orchestrated wrongs, including slurs and hostility. Mehrotra contrasted it with Bareilly’s principled magistrate resignation against such actions.
‘Here, an official probed for graft suddenly pledges loyalty to the regime—classic theatrics to dupe citizens,’ Mehrotra charged. He portrayed the Shankaracharya as the Hindu community’s anchor, questioning the officer’s abrupt stance amid real injustices unfolding.
Venturing further, Mehrotra indicted the BJP regime for stonewalling discussions on inflation, unemployment, crime spikes, healthcare collapse, and educational decline. Dismissing UGC’s new rules as a control grab, he argued they prioritize suppression over scholastic progress, targeting student and teacher voices.
Singh maintained his exit was disciplined and principled. Yet, as partisan lines sharpen, this saga exposes fault lines in Uttar Pradesh’s administrative and political landscape. Observers ponder if it’s authentic patriotism or calculated self-preservation, with implications rippling across governance debates.