Shankaracharya vs Yogi Adityanath Escalates, Ayodhya Bureaucrat Resigns

In a sharp escalation of the row involving Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Yogi Adityanath, an Ayodhya bureaucrat has resigned, saying he is doing this in support of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, the Prime Minister and the Constitution.

The controversy began earlier this month when the Shankaracharya and his supporters alleged that they were stopped from taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Magh Mela. The administration, however, claimed that they stopped his chariot procession to prevent a possible stampede in the crowded area and asked him to proceed on foot like the other devotees.