NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique tragically passed away in the hospital after being shot by three individuals in Mumbai’s Bandra East area on Saturday night, officials confirmed.
Following the incident outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddiqui’s office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, two suspects were promptly apprehended.
Expressing his condolences, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar denounced the attack as extremely unfortunate and deplorable. Pawar described Siddique as a good friend and colleague, emphasizing his commitment to fighting for the minority community and promoting secular values. He assured a thorough investigation into the incident.
Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar informed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that two alleged shooters had been taken into custody; one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana, with a third suspect managing to escape.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also oversees the home portfolio, rushed to Lilavati Hospital where Siddique was admitted.
Siddique, a former three-time MLA who recently joined the NCP after leaving the Congress, was mourned by leaders from various political parties. Some opposition members expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.
Prominent figures like NCP working president Praful Patel and Congress-turned-BJP leader Ashok Chavan expressed shock and sorrow at Siddique’s untimely demise.
NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar highlighted the alarming decline in law and order in Maharashtra, while former state home minister Anil Deshmukh and Congress’ leader and LoP in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the Eknath Shinde government for the incident.
The tragic death of a leader with ‘Y’ category security sparked outrage and calls for strict action against those responsible for the heinous act.
