Kannan Gopinathan, Ex-IAS Officer who resigned over Article 370, joins Congress
New Delhi: Six years after resigning from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in protest against the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan formally joined the Congress on Monday.
The announcement was made by Congress general secretary (organisation) and MP K.C. Venugopal, who described Gopinathan as “one of the brave bureaucrats with a passion for the downtrodden and marginalised, and someone who has always stood for justice and unity.”
A 2012-batch IAS officer from the Mizoram cadre, Gopinathan was instrumental in initiating several development projects in the Northeast, particularly in Aizawl.
Addressing a press conference after joining the party, Gopinathan said, “I consider only those people as traitors who know the country is not moving in the right direction but remain silent for their own benefit, greed, or survival. I did not want to become that kind of traitor.”
Questioning the government’s decision in 2019, he added, “Abrogating Article 370 might be the government’s prerogative. But if you shut down an entire state, jail journalists, MPs and former Chief Ministers, and suspend transportation, communication, and the internet, can that be right in a democracy?”
The Kerala-born bureaucrat, known for his outspoken stance on civil liberties and human rights, said he continues to stand by his 2019 decision. “This is a question not just for me but for all of us. Can this be right in a democratic nation? Shouldn’t voices have been raised against this?” he said.
Before his formal induction, Gopinathan met Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Venugopal, while welcoming Gopinathan, noted that although he resigned in 2019, his resignation has not yet been accepted by the government. “Bureaucrats who fight for justice and the marginalised are being penalised—this trend is visible in states like Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Even the Chief Justice of India is not immune to such attacks,” he said.
Gopinathan first came into national prominence during the 2018 Kerala floods, when he volunteered in relief operations anonymously, refusing to use his official position for recognition.
With Assembly elections in Kerala scheduled for next year, party sources indicated that Gopinathan is likely to play a significant role both in state-level politics and at the national stage
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Bidar: Representative of Supreme Leader of Iran visits Shaheen Knowledge City
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Bidar: Ayatullah Professor Abdul Majeed Hakim Elahi, the Representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran in India during his visit to Shaheen Knowledge City on Monday visited the Shaheen Group of Institutions.
Dr. Abdul Qadeer, Chairman of Shaheen Group of Institutions welcomed Professor Abdul Majeed Hakim Elahi.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Qadeer highlighted the historic and civilisational relationship between India and Iran and the centuries-old cultural, educational, and academic exchanges between the two nations.
Furthermore, he emphasized that both countries share deep-rooted ties in knowledge, language, and scientific traditions, which continue to strengthen cooperation even today.
During his visit, Ayatullah Hakim Elahi addressed a large gathering of students and faculty at Shaheen PU College.
Addressing the gathering, Ayatullah Hakim Elahi spoke on the importance of science, technology, and development, stressing that nations progress through innovation, research, and strong educational institutions.
He also encouraged students to aim for excellence in emerging fields such as biotechnology, space science, cyber technology, and nanotechnology.
During the visit, discussions were also held on future academic collaborations between Indian institutions and leading universities in Iran, particularly in advanced scientific and technological sectors.
Ayatullah Hakim Elahi also commended the remarkable contribution of the Shaheen Group of Institutions in transforming the lives of students, especially those from underprivileged and Madrasa backgrounds, by providing quality education and opportunities in professional fields.
As part of his visit, Ayatullah Hakim Elahi also toured the historic Mahmud Gawan Madrasa and commended its legacy as a centre of learning.
