Kannan Gopinathan, CAA protest, Aligarh Muslim University, UP
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The former IAS officer was on his way to speak at an event hosted by the Aligarh Muslim University against the CAA, NPR and NRC along with other activists. | File Photo

Kannan Gopinathan 'detained' en route Aligarh university, taken to 'dhaba'


Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, who made headlines for quitting the civil services over the Centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir, said that he was detained by the police at the Uttar Pradesh border on Saturday (January 4) en route Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

He was later released on a personal bond and escorted till the border.

In a series of tweets, Gopinathan said he has been detained at the border and was being taken to a local dhaba (eatery) in Agra.

The former IAS officer was on his way to speak at an event hosted by the Aligarh Muslim University against the CAA, NPR and NRC along with other activists including Kavitha Krishnan.

Kannan Gopinathan said that Aligarh district administration has asked him not to attend the event based on the orders it received from the UP government. However, he added that he will be attending the event despite the order.

The notification directed the senior superintendent of police to restrict Gopinathan from entering the UP district. Citing a previous incident, the order stated that the law and order situation was compromised during similar visits by Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav and Dr Kafeel Khan.

Gopinathan, who was the secretary, power department of the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, submitted his resignation to the Home Ministry on August 21 against the Centre’s decision to revoke the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

After tendering his resignation, Gopinathan, who hails from Kottayam district of Kerala, had said that abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution was the “right of elected government”, but in a democracy, people have the right to respond, too.

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