The brutal killing of senior Maharashtra politician and NCP’s former minister Baba Siddiqui has been creating political uproar in the state, which is about to go for assembly polls. The opposition has been demanding resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, owing moral responsibility.
Mumbai police have confirmed the involvement of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the killing of three-time MLA Baba Siddique on Saturday night. Despite Y-level category security, Siddique was shot dead by three assailants — two of whom have been detained. Many suspecting his close association with Super Star Salman Khan may be leading to this murder.
His son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique is not allowing for a postmortem to be conducted till there is “clarity on the motive”, police said on Sunday morning. Condemning the incident, leaders across Opposition parties, including the Congress, have sought accountability from the Shinde-led government for “growing criminal activities” in the state.
Many leaders, including Sharad Pawar, have demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Attacking the Mahayuti government in the state, Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi lamented that this horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. He demanded that the government must take responsibility and justice must prevail.
The incident took place as Siddique was leaving his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East and was entering his car. According to the police, the assailants fired around six to seven rounds at him of which two bullets hit him in the chest, and one hit him in the abdomen.
He sustained multiple serious injuries and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during treatment. Siddique was elected as a Congress MLA thrice and represented the Bandra West constituency from 1999 until 2014; he served as a minister in the Congress-NCP government from 2004 to 2008.
Baba Siddiqui was not only dominant in the political world but also in the film world. The news of Baba Siddiqui’s murder has caused a wave of mourning in the entire Bollywood industry. As soon as the news of the death of the veteran politician was received, many Bollywood celebrities and politicians reached Lilavati Hospital, where Baba Siddiqui was admitted after being shot. Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt super star Salman Khan and many others reached the hospital.
