Election Commission notice to Mulayam

Samajwadi Party chief allegedly threatened Mainpuri District Magistrate

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday issued notice to Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh for allegedly threatening the Mainpuri District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer, S. Minishti, for the cancellation of the gun licences of SP workers.

The Commission, which examined the compact disc allegedly containing Mr. Singh’s speeches made in Mainpuri on March 23, has enclosed a copy of the CD along with the notice. Mr. Singh is contesting from Mainpuri.

The Commission notice said that if Mr. Singh failed to give his reply by 4 p.m. on Friday, it would take action without any further notice.
Obstacles seen

“The Commission considers such threats as obstacles to the conduct of free and fair elections, as such actions affect the morale of the district election machinery involved in the conduct of elections,” the notice said.

Mr. Singh, referring to the cancellation of gun licences, allegedly warned the IAS officer that he would register a complaint with the EC against her.

He accused her of losing her sense of proportion and not being able to differentiate between a criminal and a common man. He suggested that she get her “head checked” and asked her to mend her ways within a week.

The Commission has already transferred the Superintendent of Police for “dereliction of duty.”

This is the second complaint against Mr. Singh within the purview of the Commission; he was earlier served notice in connection with the alleged distribution of Rs.100 notes to people at Saifai in Etawah district during “Holi Milan” programme.
Decision pending

Mr. Singh replied that it was usual to distribute money during such programmes and that it had nothing to do with the elections, but the Commission is yet to take a decision on the issue.