The Election Commission has directed the Congress to ask its activists to maintain restraint following a party leader's allegedly inflammatory statement at an election meeting recently.

The Commission's direction came after the party replied to the poll panel on Minority Cell chief Imraan Kidwai's alleged remarks.

"We have got the party's reply and the Commission has asked the party to advise its people to maintain restraint," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The EC had earlier ordered registration of a case against Kidwai on charges of inducing enmity between two communities at an election meeting in Chandigarh on March 15.

The EC had said that it was not satisfied with the reply sent by the Congress leader who was earlier served with a notice.

On the alleged distribution of cash by supporters of Samajwadi Party candidate from Mumbai North-West Abu Asim Azmi at a rally, Balakrishnan said that CD has been received and it would be examined by the poll panel.