The firing comes months forward of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Mumbai:
Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and member of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, has died after being shot at in Mumbai’s Bandra.
Sources stated the shooters fired six bullets round 9.30 pm on Saturday close to the workplace of Mr Siddique’s son Zeeshan, who’s the MLA from Bandra East. Two folks have been arrested.
Mr Siddique was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital. Sources stated 4 bullets hit the NCP chief and one in every of his aides additionally suffered a gunshot wound. The firing happened on Dussehra and got here months forward of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, that are anticipated to be held later this yr.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated he had spoken to police and docs on the hospital. “The incident is extraordinarily unlucky. There are reviews that he (Mr Siddique) has died. Two folks have been arrested, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Haryana, whereas one other is on the run. I’ve requested the police to take strict motion and guarantee nobody takes regulation and order into their arms. A gang-war-like scenario shouldn’t be allowed to resurface in Mumbai,” he stated in Marathi.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who additionally holds the Home portfolio, has reached the hospital. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wrote on X that he was shocked to find out about Mr Siddique’s loss of life and that he had misplaced a superb colleague and good friend.
Mr Siddique, who was a three-time MLA from Bandra West, was related to the Congress for 48 years and had stop the celebration in February and joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP. Zeeshan Siddique was expelled from the Congress in August.
Expressing his shock, NCP Spokesperson Brijmohan Shrivastav instructed NDTV that Mr Siddique had not spoken about any threats from anyone.
Mr Siddique was elected as an MLA from the Bandra West constituency in 1999, 2004 and 2009 and served as a minister of state for meals and civil provides, labour and FDA between 2004 and 2008.
The former MLA was recognized not only for his political acumen but additionally for internet hosting lavish events. A chilly conflict between superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan was resolved at an ‘iftar’ celebration hosted by Mr Siddique in 2013.
Salman Khan and actor Sanjay Dutt have additionally reached the hospital.
Law And Order Questions
Expressing grief on the loss of life of Mr Siddique, leaders of opposition events additionally raised questions on regulation and order in Mumbai, asking how a politician who had Y-level safety might be killed in public in an upscale space like Bandra.
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar stated folks within the authorities ought to take duty and step down from their posts.
“The deteriorating regulation and order scenario within the state is a matter of concern. It is unhappy that former state minister Baba Siddique was shot lifeless within the nation’s monetary capital, Mumbai. If the Home minister and the rulers will take the state’s automobile ahead with such leniency, it may be a warning signal for the frequent folks. This not solely must be investigated the rulers want to simply accept duty and step down from their posts. My heartfelt tribute to Baba Siddiqui and condolences to his household,” he wrote in Marathi.
Congress chief and chief of the opposition within the Maharashtra Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, stated the state authorities has supported criminals.
“The taking pictures and killing of former minister of state and former MLA Baba Siddique, who had Y-level safety, could be very stunning and tragic. I’m praying for energy to his household on this troublesome time. An enormous chief within the state has been shot like this. We maintain saying that Maharashtra has turn out to be Uttar Pradesh. Mumbai was peaceable however such incidents are taking place right here now as a result of there isn’t any worry of the police within the metropolis. The authorities has supported criminals,” the Congress chief wrote in Marathi.
In his put up on X, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated the incident can be totally investigated and strict motion can be taken towards the attackers.