SDPI opposes field trial of GM seeds; party elections from December

[email protected] (CD Network)
August 7, 2014

Mangalore, Aug 7: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held at Bangalore recent has opposed the field trials of genetically modified (GM) seeds and demanded that till a well enquired report of experts of the subject is not procured and considered by the Parliament, the Government must stop every move regarding its field trials in India in any manner. The meeting was presided over by party's national president A Sayeed.

seeds
A number of resolutions were passed at the NWC meeting wherein a resolution on GM seeds was part of it. The resolution on this further said that despite the hype some GM crops have been a failure in various ways. Argentina planted GM soybean en masse and saw huge jumps in yields. But the farmers also saw emergence of super-weeds that required even more spraying than before GM introduction. The impact was that more pesticide cost, pollution, and dead soils. Another disadvantage is that the genetic engineering has a risk of contamination of other crops by gene release and transfer. It may make super-bugs, and could affect people theoretically. A genetic engineered crop or animal for that matter could wipe out the planet.

Meanwhile, a day prior to the NWC meeting, the SDPI's National Secretariat meeting was held at Bangalore wherein decision about the party's internal elections was taken. The elections from the branch level would commence from this December and culminate with the election of the party's national president in the National Representative Council, (NRC), meeting to be held on March 28th & 29th, 2015 in Kerala. The venue of the NRC meeting has not been decided and would be done later on.

Earlier, A. Sayeed, SDPI national president, in his presidential address exhorted the delegates to work for the uplift of the party. He congratulated them for the hard work put in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Though the party was unable to win any seat but in many constituencies it finished fourth and Sharfuddin Ahmad, national general secretary of SDPI, in his concluding remarks called upon the delegates to fulfill their responsibilities and take the country forward.

At the, outset of the NWC meeting Prof. Naznin Begum, vice president of SDPI, welcomed the delegates. Abdul Majeed Kodlipet, president of Karnataka SDPI, proposed vote of thanks. A book of the party titled “Issues and Views” was released on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the resolutions passed at the NWC meeting were as under: Resolution 1 - FDI: The NDA Government has not only continued the policy and programmes of ousted UPA Government but has also increased the quantum of FDI expanding the sphere of FDI n India particularly in Defence, Insurance, Railways, etc. The government has been following the bids and mandate of corporate world causing insurmountable difficulties to the common public. FDI in defence will convert India as an arms hub of world powers and our own non-alignment policy will further be damaged. By increasing FDI in defense it would be like compromising safety and security of the nation. It is a myth that FDI hike will bring transfer of technology to Indian companies, as there is a 'Technology Denial' regime which does not permit developed world to transfer defense technology. The NDA Government's decision will have serious consequences as defense production will come under the control of foreigners. Defense requires special handling and clearly this policy doesn't reflect that. The Union Government must have second thoughts over 100 per cent FDI in defense and thereby not compromise with the security of the nation.

Resolution 2 - COMMUNALISM: SDPI cautions all Indians not to fall prey to the communally inspired policies and programmes of the government and appeals to public to keep away from state hatred inclination. The institutions are being saffronised and communalised as well as casteism is being institutionalized which is very injurious to the health of our secular polity.

Resolution 3 - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT: SDPI strongly demands the government decision to establish new 22 Nuclear Power Plants through out India be withdrawn in view of the world opinion and the opposition of pubic in face of unrepairable damages apprehended by experts. The government must explore the eco-friendly alternative to increase the production of power.

Resolution 4 - GAZA: SDPI resents the stony silence of the Central government in full view of genocide of Palestinians by the Israelis. India with a well established policy had always supported the cause of Palestine against the illegal acts and use of brute force by Israel under the dictum of Mahatma Gandhi “Palestine for Palestinians”. The silence of the international community is shocking and exposes the duality and hypocrisy in today's world order in its inequitable approach towards human rights in the world. SDPI demands immediate action from the Central Government by termination of all the diplomatic and trade relations with Israel. It also demands that India must lead the UNO move to prosecute Israel's authority for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel's aggression on a territory which is under its occupation since June 1967, is a simple war crime. It is the duty of the Arab countries and human rights organisations to take Israel to the World Court of Justice and to impose strict boycott of Israel until it is forced to see reason, stops aggression and withdraws from occupied territories.

Resolution 5 - CONTRACT LABOUR:

(i) SDPI demands limitation of contract labourers in any organisation be limited to 10 per cent of

(ii) Such contract labourers may also be appointed with due implementation of Reservation

(iii) Whenever any government services are outsourced the agency should also adhere to the above the labour force; Policies; demands.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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