New Delhi: A high-ranking bureaucratic post was traded for a public display of loyalty this week as Prashant Kumar Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of GST in Ayodhya, resigned in a wave of raw emotion. A viral video of the 48-year-old officer sobbing during a phone call with his wife has gone viral on social media.
“Whose salt we eat”
In the heart-wrenching footage, Singh is seen struggling to maintain his composure while informing his wife of his decision. Between tears, he articulated a philosophy of deep-seated loyalty to the state leadership.
Ladies and gentleman, the match is now tied and will go to the super over! GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh in Ayodhya has resigned after he was hurt over Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s statement for UP CM Yogi Adityanath. pic.twitter.com/w6j8tHz7tY
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) January 27, 2026
“I have submitted my resignation. I could not tolerate it,” Singh is heard saying. “One must respect those whose salt we eat.” The officer claimed that the mental toll of recent events had left him unable to sleep for two consecutive nights, forcing him to choose his conscience over his career.
A clash of saints and statesmen
Singh’s departure is a direct reaction to the escalating tension between the state government and Swami Avimukteshwaranand. The officer stated he was “deeply hurt” by what he described as “unsavoury language” used by the seer against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The controversy stems from remarks where the Swami compared CM Yogi to controversial historical figures, a move that has polarised the saint community and led to protests across the state. For Singh, an officer who draws his livelihood from the state, the perceived insult to the elected head was a line that could not be crossed.
A bureaucracy divided
Singh’s resignation marks the second high-profile exit of a government official in just 48 hours, though for seemingly opposite reasons.
Earlier, Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri stepped down, citing concerns over the new UGC law and the alleged mistreatment of Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s followers by authorities.
While Agnihotri’s exit leaned toward the grievances of the seer’s camp, Singh’s resignation serves as a staunch defense of CM Yogi and PM Narendra Modi.
From GST to grassroots
A native of Sharma village in the Mau district, Singh’s career began with his first posting in Saharanpur. Despite his resignation being sent to the Governor, he remains at his desk, stating he will fulfill his official duties until the paperwork is formally accepted.
As for the future, the officer doesn’t plan on retiring into the shadows. Singh announced that once he is officially relieved of his post, he intends to dedicate his personal resources and time to social work and the betterment of society.
The boiling point
The incident comes at a time of heightened sensitivity in Ayodhya and beyond. With the saint community demanding apologies and the administration under fire from multiple angles.