The Election Commission today slapped a notice on Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav for his alleged threatening remarks against the District Magistrate of Mainpuri from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh saying such action were "obstacles" in conduct of free and fair polls.
In its notice, the EC also said "such actions affect the morale of the district election machinery" involved in the conduct of elections. The Commission asked Yadav to explain by April three why action should not be taken against him for threatening the DM-cum-Returning Officer Ministhy Dileep, failing which the Commission would take further action without any further notice.
The 35-year-old DM, who hails from Kerala, is reported to have said that the SP chief had threatened and insulted her for ordering cancellation of several arms licenses in the district. Yadav denied having threatened her.
Yadav had also allegedly warned that he would register a complaint with the EC against the DM whom he accused of losing her sense of proportion and not being able to differentiate between a criminal and a common man.
He had also suggested that she should get her "head checked" and asked her to mend ways within a week. However, Yadav had later said he always respected women and gave them proper respect and place in the party. The Commission had earlier viewed two CDs containing the alleged controversial remarks of Yadav against the DM.
Meanwhile, Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Lucknow that although the District Magistrate had not filed a case against him, "she was getting phone calls from Principal Secretary (Home) to lodge a case against me". "If the phone calls are probed, then the truth will come," he said.
