Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Saturday that he has submitted his reply to the Election Commission on allegations of distribution of cash at a 'Holi Milan' function at his native Saifai village,which he defended as part of an age-old tradition. "I have submitted the reply to the EC before the expiry of the deadline.We were asked to submit our reply by March 14,but we did it a day in advance. I am confident that the Commission will be satisfied with it," he told reporters in Lucknow. Yadav,however,did not elaborate on the contents of his reply to the EC notice for alleged violation of poll code. "You will come to know about the content of my reply from the Election Commission itself. Don't force (me) to divulge the content at this juncture," he said. Yadav said giving reward during Holi festival was a "custom" and part of an age-old tradition,but an "unnecessary controversy" was created this time by television channels. "But I am very thankful that this has brought the SP at the centre of discussion," he said. "For a political party,charcha (discussion),kharcha (expenditure) and parcha (newspapers) are very important. A leader cannot survive without these three things. I am happy that SP is in discussion due to all this controversy," Yadav added. Yadav said that unlike other parties,the SP never gave tickets for money. "SP is not as financially strong as other parties. But its workers and public support are its real wealth. This time people are more inclined towards the SP and they will ensure victory of our candidates," he said. The SP supremo landed into controversy recently for alleged distribution of money by his supporters during a Holi Milan programme attended by him at Saifai in Etawah district. Taking suo motu cognizance of the video footage aired by some news channels,the Election Commission slapped a notice to Yadav under para 1(4) of the model code of conduct which relates to corrupt practices.
