Social Democratic Party of India

The Social Democratic Party of India is an Indian political party founded on 21 June 2009[3][4] at New Delhi. It is the political outfit of the Popular Front of India (PFI).[5][6] It was registered with the Election Commission of India on 13 April 2010. MK Faizey is the party's National President.[7][8]

Social Democratic Party of India
PresidentMK Faizey
Founded21 June 2009
HeadquartersC-4, Hazrat Nizamuddin West New Delhi, India-110013
Women's wingWomen India Movement (WIM)
Labour wingSDTU (Social Democratic Trade Union)
IdeologySocial democracy
Anti-imperialism
Anti-corruption
Social justice
Anti-fascism[1]
ColoursGreen   Red  
ECI StatusRegistered-Unrecognized Party by ECI[2]
Party flag
Website
Official Website

Activities

Reservation in private school

In line with the mandate of the Right to Education, the SDPI sought 25% of seats in private schools in the district of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu for the academic year 2015. The petition to the district collector also asked for transparency in school admissions and fee structure.[9]

Protest against police

In April 2015, the SDPI protested against the police encounter of the 20 workers from Tamil Nadu working in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The party accused the AP police of staging a fake encounter in the name of self-defence. The party demanded the government to lodge a criminal case against the police personnel responsible for these killings.[10]

Demand for road

In February 2016, around 30 cadres attempted to stage ‘sleeping protest’ in front of the Divisional Office of Department of Highways, protesting to repair of the Palayamkottai – Papanasam Road (in Tamil Nadu). Other political parties and the public had been repeatedly appealing to the Department of Highways to have this 52-km stretch re-laid. The officials had chosen to ignore the plea and were keen on re-laying only stretches that was used by ministers and other VIPs during the governor's visit to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.[11]

Women's rights

The Jisha Murder Case in 2016 created statewide agitation for a speedier justice.

The SDPI had blocked the Kerala CM Oommen Chandy who had come to Perumbavur to meet the kin of Jisha's. Post-visit, the CM said that the investigations are being carried out with efficiency.[12]

Preservation of religious sentiments

In March 2016, the Mathrubhumi reproduced an offensive comment about Muhammad that was initially posted on Facebook.

The paper was forced to offer an apology after the party and other organisations outlined how the post had "hurt the sentiments of the community", with strong protest outside the newspaper's office.[13]

Rebuild Babri Masjid

In December 2016, SDPI organized nationwide campaign demanding to rebuild Babri Masjid in the same place, which was demolished by the Hindutwa mob in December 1992.[14]During this campaign District President of Dakshina Kannada was arrested for allegedly inciting communal hatred by staging a skit.[15][16]The Protest were held in Tamil Nadu,Delhi and Karnataka.[17][18]

Anti CAA Protest

Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) held various protest across over India opposing Citizenship Amendment Act.[19][20] and Burned the copies of the bill[21]In Coimbatore Tamil Nadu Members of SDPI hoisted national flags at their homes and shops.[22][23]Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan accused the SDPI for using anti Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest for creating division among people.[24]

During COVID-19

On April 28,2020 SDPI Tamil Nadu State filed PIL in Madras High court requesting Transit of Tabligh Jamaat attendees from Tamil Nadu who are stranded in Delhi and in other states.On May 13,2020 Madras High court directed Tamil Nadu Govt Arranges Transport & Quarantine Facility For Tablighis Stranded In Delhi.[25][26][27]


SDPI also filed PIL in Madras High Court on April 16,2020 alleged communal flavour to the coronavirus news in sections of media.[28]Seeking directions to strictly comply with the Supreme Court's recent order to publish official version on the pandemic.[29]

Burial Services Provided:

SDPI Volunteers performed traditional funeral service of more than 32 bodies in Chennai and different parts of India.[30][31]

Charges and accusations

Accusation by Sunni outfits

Sunni outfits of Kerala Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama and Sunni Yuvajana Sangham campaigned against SDPI, accused SDPI of being extremist.[32]

Murder of CPIM, Congress, IUML workers

Nine PFI and SDPI activists were found guilty of killing CPIM worker in 2008.[33] SDPI activists were found guilty of murdering Muslim Youth League worker in Kozhikode.[34] SDPI members were arrested for murder of Congress worker in Chavakkad.[35] Several SDPI offices have been raided by Kerala Police,[36][37] Suspected weapons training camps and arms stockpiling were seized in Narath, Kannur district from the offices and other centers of PFI and SDPI.[38][39] Though the party denied any involvement, the charge-sheet filed by National Investigation Agency (NIA) blamed Popular Front of India (PFI) and their political outfit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in conducting arms training camps across the state under the pretense of health awareness camps and yoga classes.[40][41] According to the FIR, the 24 accused in the case were reportedly the members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).Cases were registered under sections 143, 147, 153(B), R/W 149 of IPC, section 5(1)(a) r/w 25(1)(a) of Arms Act, section 4 of Explosives Act and section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of the Indian Penal Code.[42][43][44]

Four SDPI activists were arrested for attack on two Communist Party of India (Marxist)(CPI-M) members at Mangalam, Tirur, on 29 January 2014.[45][46] SDPI accepted the responsibility after a video of this violent attack was aired by major television channels. However the party justified the attacks reasoning that it needs to safeguard its members. As per the party's District President,the attack was just an emotional reaction from its members to an attack the CPM executed against one of its members on the same morning.[47]

Attack on RSS Activist Varun Bhoopalam and Plot to Assassinate BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

In January 2020, the Bengaluru police arrested six members of the SDPI, for attacking a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Varun Bhoopalam, who participated in a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) rally in December 2019 and for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to kill Tejasvi Surya, BJP Bengaluru South MP, during a Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Bengaluru [48][49]

Controversy

In 2014 a private school in south Kerala removed Vande Mataram from their Independence Day programme after workers of the SDPI threatened to disrupt the programme, saying that some of the words in the song were against the religious beliefs of the Muslim community. The school also dropped the namaste gesture from a dance number performed during Independence Day celebrations, inviting sharp criticism from various quarters. The song was dropped after several rounds of rehearsals. When the issue snowballed into a raging controversy, school management denied any external pressure. SDPI justified the changes in the programme saying that they approached the school management after a number of parents complained that some words in Vande Mataram and the gesture namaste were against their religious beliefs.[50]

2020 Bangaluru Riot

In riot of bangaluru, one leader Muzamil pasha was arrested by the police on the charge of violance.[51]

Regional presence

SDPI has representations in 16 states of India including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andrapradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Manipur. It has made state level and district level local committees in most of the states.[52] SDPI has shown its presence in recent elections 68 SDPI Candidate Won BBMP election held in Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan.[53][54] The party won 14 seats in four municipalities in the 2010 local body election in Kerala.[55] It won 62 seats in the Local body election 2011 in Tamil Nadu.[56] Karnataka saw more than one lakh votes polled in favor of the party in the 24 Assembly segment but the party's individual candidates did not win any seat. He pointed out forming local alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party to underline his party's secular credentials. However, by nominating only two non-Muslim candidates in the 24 constituencies (both in reserved constituencies), the SDPI reaffirmed its image as a party in pursuit of the Muslim vote. The SDPI State president also claimed that as the national level, the party shares a good rapport with the Janata Dal (United) as well as the Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party.[57]

Electoral presence

Presence in Indian general election, 2014

The SDPI fielded 30 candidates in six states. The party's 2014 Election Manifesto contained several issues concerning domestic and foreign policies. The basic needs of the people, democratic rights, eradication of corruption, SCs/STs, Minorities etc. A new national water policy, implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission and Sachar Committee reports, 100% literacy by 2020, eradication of corruption. All international treaties related to India is to be ratified by the Parliament & the Nehruvian period status should be reinstated as the leader of the Non-alignment movement. The manifesto also included the need for 10% reservation to Muslims with the inclusion of Muslim and Christian dalits in the SC category with the sub-plan for minorities and reservation for women of SC, ST, OBC and minorities in the Lok Sabha. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and AFSPA would be repealed, and the enactment of Communal Violence (Prevention) Bill would be at the top priority of the party.[7] The bill was heavily criticized by human rights groups and lawyers.[58] In the state of Kerala, the party ran candidates in Ponnani and Malappuram. In the state of Karnataka, the Social Democratic Party of India is being supported by the Janata Dal (Secular) in Dakshin Kannada. The JD-S has extended its support "on the principles and ideologies laid by the party at the time of its (SDPI's) birth".[59] The party had put a decent show in the Karnataka Local Body elections in 2013 by winning 17 seats.[60] Among the various parties who contested for the 2014 Indian general election in Kerala, SDPI had the highest number of candidates with criminal charges. Fourteen out of the party's 20 candidates faced criminal charges.7 out of 17 candidates from the BJP, 6 out of 9 from the CPI(M), 6 out of 15 from the Congress, all four candidates of CPI, and 3 out of the 20 candidates from the BSP had criminal cases against them.[61] In the recent election held in Karnataka State for Punchayath, SDPI contested in 375 seats and won 74 seats and secured 2nd position in 97 places.

Presence in Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, 2013

Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) contested in 24 seats in the May 2013 assembly polls, out of which 7 were contested from Dakshina Kannada district and 5 from Bangalore. It's state president Abdul Majeed fought against the three-time legislator and former minister Tanveer Sait in Narashimaraja assembly segment, a constituency dominated by Muslims.[62] He lost the election by 8370 votes and became second.[63]

Presence in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2016

Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) contested independently in 30 seats in the May 2016 assembly polls under the 'Gas Cylinder' symbol.[64] It got 65,978 (0.15%) and did not win any seats.

Presence in Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2016

The general election for the fourteenth legislative assembly was held on May 16, 2016, to elect representatives of the 140 constituencies in Kerala. The party fielded candidates in 89 constituencies independently.[65]

Presence in Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, 2018

Social Democratic Party of India had declared Abdul Majid K H as its candidate from Narasimharaja constituency in 2018 for Karnataka Legislative Assembly.[66] It had decided to concentrate on Gulbarga Uttar, Chickpet in Bengaluru and Narasimharaja in Mysuru, said Mohammed Riyaz, SDPI's state secretary.[67] The party failed to win any seats.

Presence in Indian general election, 2019

The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), contested in a few selected seats in six states – Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Delhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party contested in 15 Lok Sabha seats. While in Andhra Pradesh, apart from one Lok Sabha seat, it fielded two candidates in the Assembly elections which were held simultaneously.[68] In Dakshina Kannada constituency, SDPI managed to get 46,839 votes, increasing its vote share by 1.22 per cent compared to 2014 in which it managed to get 27,254 votes (2.26 per cent).[69]

See also

References
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