Resignation comes amid heated exchange between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over Magh Mela incident and wider political issues

The confrontation between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has escalated further with the resignation of an Ayodhya-based bureaucrat, who said he stepped down in support of the government, the Constitution and democratic values.

The row began earlier this month after the Shankaracharya and his supporters alleged they were prevented from taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Magh Mela. The local administration, however, maintained that the seer’s chariot procession was stopped to avoid the risk of a stampede in the crowded area and that he was asked to proceed on foot like other devotees.

Terming the incident an insult, the Shankaracharya launched a protest, leading to a sharp verbal exchange with the chief minister. Without naming him, Yogi Adityanath cautioned people against figures like “Kalanemi”, a demon from the Ramayana who disguised himself as a saint to deceive Lord Hanuman.

Responding to the remark, the Shankaracharya said the chief minister, now a politician, should focus on governance and leave religious matters to seers. He questioned the appropriateness of a chief minister discussing religious symbolism instead of issues such as education, health, law and order, and economic development.

The Shankaracharya also weighed in on the controversy surrounding newly notified University Grants Commission rules that propose special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST and OBC students. Critics have argued that the framework could result in discrimination against general category students.

Speaking to media, the Shankaracharya criticised the approach, stating that injustice cannot be attributed to an entire caste and warning that pitting one caste against another could harm Hindu society. He called for the rules to be withdrawn.

Ayodhya GST officer quits citing ‘insult’ to elected leadership

On Tuesday, Ayodhya deputy GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh tendered his resignation, saying he could not tolerate what he described as an insult to the chief minister, the Prime Minister and other constitutional authorities.

In a statement, Singh said he had resigned in accordance with service rules and out of loyalty to the government, adding that he was deeply hurt by what he termed unrestrained comments aimed at dividing society. He said the government had provided him livelihood and that he could not continue in service while remaining silent.

Singh alleged that personal remarks were made against the chief minister and emphasised that Yogi Adityanath is a democratically elected leader. He also said he was troubled by what he described as political motives behind the debate over the UGC rules.

The officer stated that once his resignation is accepted, he plans to take up social work.

Scotland on Monday announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 and jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The European side was added to the tournament after the International Cricket Council replaced Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision not to send its team to India due to security concerns. Scotland will be led by Richie Berrington, who has previously captained the side in major international tournaments.

Scotland have featured in six of the nine editions of the T20 World Cup so far, having participated in the 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.

Squad balance and new faces

Along with the main squad, Scotland also named two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves for the marquee event.

Cricket Scotland’s head of performance Steve Snell expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation for sub-continent conditions. He said the selected group offers flexibility for different match situations and challenges expected in India.

Snell also highlighted opportunities for younger players, particularly pacer Zainullah Ihsan, who has impressed at youth and ‘A’ team levels with his pace and skill set. He added that Oliver Davidson earned his place through consistent effort and improvement over recent months.

According to Snell, the players are motivated to compete against the world’s best and are eager to make an impact on the global stage.

Group C fixtures and opening match

Scotland have been placed in Group C, alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies. Their campaign will begin on February 7 with an opening fixture against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

Scotland squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Squad:
Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal

Travelling reserves:
Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis

Non-travelling reserves:
Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin launched a strong political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firmly rejecting the claim that Tamil Nadu is unsafe for women and questioning the Centre’s handling of law and order issues across the country.

Addressing a massive DMK women’s conference in Thanjavur district, Stalin said the Prime Minister’s remarks on women’s safety in Tamil Nadu were misleading and politically motivated. Asserting that the state remains one of the safest places for women, he highlighted the high participation of women in education, employment and public life.

“Mr Prime Minister, I say this with my head held high — Tamil Nadu is the safest place for women,” Stalin said, accusing the Prime Minister of spreading false narratives.

Manipur violence and Centre under fire

Turning his focus to the prolonged violence in Manipur, Stalin questioned the BJP-led government’s failure to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Referring to official figures, he said hundreds had lost their lives, thousands were injured and more than a lakh people had been displaced.

He asked why the so-called “double-engine government” had been unable to control the situation despite being in power both at the Centre and in the state.

Drug abuse claims rejected

Responding to allegations of rising drug abuse in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said narcotics were entering India through BJP-ruled states, blaming the Centre for weak border security and enforcement failures.

Attack on AIADMK-BJP alliance

Stalin also criticised the renewed alliance between the AIADMK and BJP, describing it as a “repackaged failed alliance.” He pointed out that the partnership had been defeated in previous elections and claimed that even when the two parties contested separately, voters rejected them.

Alleging misuse of central agencies, Stalin said NDA allies in Tamil Nadu were functioning under pressure, with investigative agencies being used as tools of intimidation.

Dravidian model and women-centric schemes

Highlighting the achievements of his government, Stalin said the Dravidian model of governance places women’s empowerment and social justice at its core. He recalled initiatives introduced during the tenure of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, including women’s entry into the police force and the expansion of self-help groups.

Stalin said his first decision as Chief Minister was to introduce free bus travel for women, a scheme that has since become widely popular. He also cited women-led self-help groups providing doorstep healthcare services, the breakfast scheme for schoolchildren and the 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

Calling women the “powerhouse” of society, Stalin urged them to actively campaign for the DMK, counter misinformation and mobilise voters. He announced that the party would organise five mega conferences across Tamil Nadu in February as part of its election outreach.

Kanimozhi targets PM Modi

Earlier at the event, DMK MP Kanimozhi launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of visiting Tamil Nadu only during election periods. She questioned the Centre over pending funds for schoolchildren, the Hosur airport project, flood relief assistance, delimitation concerns and insufficient funding for Tamil language initiatives.

BJP response

The BJP dismissed the DMK’s criticism, arguing that while the BJP and AIADMK had lost elections when contesting separately, their combined vote share indicated that the NDA could still remain a strong contender in Tamil Nadu.