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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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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