Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that corruption in Uttar Pradesh is making it difficult for honest government officers to continue in service, claiming that some are choosing to leave before completing their tenure.

Yadav made the remarks while commenting on the resignation of IAS officer Divya Mittal. He alleged that the situation in the state was such that honest officers were finding it increasingly difficult to work.

According to Yadav, officers who want to discharge their duties honestly are facing an environment that is not conducive to their functioning. He claimed that some such officers are opting to leave government service rather than continue under these circumstances.

Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks on honest officers

Yadav linked the resignation of officers to what he described as the prevailing corruption in the Uttar Pradesh administration.

The Samajwadi Party leader alleged that officers who do not want to compromise with corruption are being pushed towards leaving service. His remarks came in the context of Divya Mittal’s resignation from the IAS.

Yadav’s comments are allegations directed at the state administration and do not, by themselves, establish that corruption was the reason for any particular officer’s resignation.

Divya Mittal’s resignation

IAS officer Divya Mittal’s resignation was the immediate context for Yadav’s remarks. Yadav used the development to raise questions about the working environment for government officers in Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party chief argued that the departure of officers before retirement raises concerns about the conditions under which government officials are expected to work.

His comments add to the political debate over governance and corruption in Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kyrgyzstan and reiterated India’s support for efforts aimed at bringing peace to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

During a joint statement with Putin, PM Modi said India supports all peaceful efforts to resolve the conflict and will continue to back such initiatives.

“India advocates for resolving all problems peacefully, which is necessary for all of humanity,” PM Modi said.

The meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Modi’s remarks underlined India’s stated position that conflicts should be addressed through peaceful means. The Prime Minister emphasised the broader importance of resolving disputes peacefully for humanity.

The meeting comes as India and Russia continue to maintain close bilateral ties, with the two countries also discussing matters of mutual interest during high-level engagements.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said India’s standing in the world was built through its tradition of selfless service and humanitarian assistance, rather than through military or imperial power.

Addressing the “Hindu Vishwa Bandhu – Embrace the World in Friendship” gathering in Toronto, Bhagwat said India became a “Vishwaguru” (world teacher) through its character and service to humanity, rather than as a “Mahashakti” (superpower).

Bhagwat recalls India’s humanitarian tradition

Bhagwat cited historical examples of India providing refuge to people fleeing persecution and war. He recalled how the Maharaja of Jamnagar provided shelter and protection to Polish refugees during the Second World War until they could return safely.

He also referred to more recent humanitarian operations, saying Indian military transport aircraft had rescued citizens of seven other countries along with Indians during evacuations from a conflict zone in the Middle East.

The RSS chief said India has historically provided peaceful refuge to people belonging to different faiths, including Muslims, Christians, Jews and Parsis.

‘India never conquered any country’

Bhagwat contrasted India’s civilisational outreach with imperial expansion, saying Indian traditions focused on sharing knowledge rather than conquering territories.

He said Indian travellers historically reached different parts of the world but did not conquer countries. Instead, he said, they shared knowledge in areas including astronomy, Ayurveda and civilisational values.

Calling this tradition the “DNA of Bharat”, Bhagwat said India has continued to help people in distress, including in situations where assistance was not specifically requested.

Bhagwat stresses diversity and unity

Bhagwat also spoke about his understanding of the word “Hindu”, saying it cannot be defined by a particular language, form of worship or lifestyle. He said Hindus “respect all” and “accept all”.

He emphasised the need to respect and embrace diversity, describing it as an expression of an underlying unity.

According to Bhagwat, India’s ancient ethos recognises diversity as natural while treating unity as the fundamental reality.

He further invoked the philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or the belief that the entire world is one family.

Bhagwat said that despite differences in appearance and other forms of diversity, people are essentially one and therefore serving others is a duty.