EC notice to Trinamool lawmaker for controversial speech

Kolkata, April 20 (IANS) Trinamool Congress legislator Monirul Islam was Sunday issued a show cause notice by the Election Commission after he asked party workers in West Bengal's Birbhum to prevent people from voting for other parties.

"Islam has been show-caused for his speech and directed to submit his reply within 24 hours to the (Birbhum) district magistrate," Amit Roychowdhury, officer on special duty (OSD) told media persons here.

Islam represents Labhpur in Birbhum.

Infamous for making hate speeches, Islam addressing a party rally in Sainthia in the district Saturday said: "Do not allow even a single person to vote for the BJP, Congress or the CPI-M on the poll day... the responsibility to ensure this in on you".

Accused in a murder case, Islam had publicly threatened to decapitate a Congress leader during the rural polls in the state last year.

"It would not take me even a minute to behead you," Islam had said at a rally July 2013 as he went on to claim how he had "squashed" three people under his feet for committing atrocities against women.