Mumbai. A few weeks ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique died in Lilavati Hospital after three men shot him in Mumbai’s Bandra East area on Saturday night. The murder took place outside Siddique’s son Zeeshan’s office. Zeeshan is now the Congress MLA from Mumbai’s Bandra East. The shooters opened four to five rounds of fire from a 9.9 MM pistol.
Police have arrested two of the alleged assailants, identified as Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) and Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), while another accused is on the run and efforts are on to trace him.
Complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi lamented the collapse of law and order in Maharashtra and held the Eknath Shinde government accountable for the unprecedented tragedy. “The tragic demise of Baba Siddique ji is shocking and saddening. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time,” wrote the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha on X. “This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail,” he added.
Baba Siddique’s murder shocking: Aaditya Thackeray
“This, sadly reflects on the law and order situation in Maharashtra. The complete collapse of administration, law, and order,” he wrote on X.
Let’s not politicize Siddique’s murder: Ajit Pawar.
The NCP was “devastated” to learn about Baba Siddique’s murder, said deputy Chief minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar. “We are heartbroken, struggling to grasp the cruelty of this incident. This is not just a political loss. It’s a deeply personal tragedy that has shaken us all,” Pawar added. “I strongly urge everyone to resist the temptation to politicize this horrifying event. This is not a time for division or for exploiting the pain of others for political advantage. Right now, our focus must be on ensuring that justice is served,” he said.
Shocked by Siddique’s murder: Mallikarjun Kharge
ordered the Eknath Shinde government to conduct a thorough investigation into the case. “The tragic demise of Former Maharashtra Minister, Shri Baba Siddique is shocking beyond words,” wrote Kharge on X. Offering his “deepest condolences” to Siddique’s family, friends, and supporters, Kharge said, “Justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra Govt must order a thorough and transparent investigation.” “The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest. Accountability is paramount,” he concluded.
Tejashwi Yadav: Crumbling law and order exposed
Reacting to Siddique’s murder, the leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal Tejashwi Yadav said no one was safe in Mumbai. “The incident is shocking and saddening. I knew him personally as he was a native of Bihar’s Gopalganj district. If such an incident can take place in a city like Mumbai, especially in the Bandra area, one could say that no one is safe there,” said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. “This shows the crumbling law-and-order situation in that state. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time,” he added.
Ramesh Chennithala: Chief minister Eknath Shinde must resign
Congress’s Ramesh Chennithala said the murder exposed the absence of law and the reign of anarchy in Mumbai. “Baba Siddiqui’s murder shows complete anarchy in Mumbai. The rule of law is gone. CM & Dy CM must resign immediately, taking responsibility!” wrote Chennithala on X.