Former Maharashtra minister and member of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Baba Siddique, was shot at in Mumbai’s Bandra area late on Saturday evening. in has died after being shot at in Mumbai’s Bandra. He was taken to Lilavati Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. The incident has raised a big question mark on the safety and security of political leaders in opposition in wake of Maharashtra Assembly elections knocking at the door.
Baba Siddique was inside his his son Zeeshan’s office (MLA from Bandra East) in Bandra East when three people fired at him. Two people have been arrested. According to prima facie reports, the hands of Bishnoi gang in the murder over the dispute over the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “It’s extremely unfortunate. Two people have been arrested, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Haryana, while another is on the run. I have asked the police to take strict action and ensure no one takes law and order into their hands. A gang-war-like situation should not be allowed to resurface in Mumbai.” He said he had spoken to police and hospital staff and assured that the criminals would be punished.
Former Maharashtra home minister and a leader from the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP,Anil Deshmukh, on X handle wrote, “The shooting and killing of former minister of state and former MLA Baba Siddiqui, who had Y-level security, is very shocking and tragic. I am praying for strength to his family in this difficult time. A big leader in the state has been shot like this. We keep saying that Maharashtra has become Uttar Pradesh. Mumbai was peaceful but such incidents are happening here now because there is no fear of the police in the city. The government has supported criminals.”
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reached the hospital.
Baba Siddique – At a glance
Baba Siddique was a big name in Maharashtra politics. A three-time MLA from Bandra West.
He was associated with the Congress for 48 years and had quit the party in February and joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP. His son Zeeshan Siddique was expelled from the Congress.
Siddique was elected as an MLA from the Bandra West constituency in 1999, 2004 and 2009.
Baba Siddique served as a minister of state for food and civil supplies, labour and FDA between 2004 and 2008.
Siddique was very popular among the film fraternity and regular at lavish parties. He was instrumental in resolving the cold-war between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan in 2013.
