Two state funerals and one lousy equation: Baba Siddique = Ratan Tata

Two state funerals in Maharashtra show a stark contrast. On October 10, the state of Maharashtra accorded a state funeral to business titan, Ratan Tata, who put the nation first in all business ventures. Three days later, another funeral was given to three-time former MLA, Baba Siddique, whose biggest achievement was uniting the Khans. Questions are being asked why the two men have been given the same honours.

One state and two state funerals within the span of a week told a story of contrasts in Maharashtra. On October 10, industrialist-philanthropist Ratan Tata was cremated with state honours by the Maharashtra government. On October 13, three-time former MLA Baba Siddique, whose greatest contribution known to the public was to bring the warring Khans together, was given the same honours. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose government gave the honours to Ratan Tata, called him a "unique blend of morality and entrepreneurship". The entire nation bowed its head to Tata, who put the nation first in all business ventures.

TWO STATE FUNERALS AND ONE QUESTION

It was under Ratan Tata that India got its first truly Indian car, Indica, in 1998. He also gave the Indians Nano, the world's cheapest car. Under Ratan Tata, the Tata Group acquired Tetley, Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR), and Corus, giving the group a global image.

He transformed a $5-billion-revenue Tata Group into a $100-billion global entity with operations in 100 countries. Ratan Tata, didn't just build the Tata Group, but his "immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation," Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said.

The list of contributions of Ratan Tata to nation building through industry is long. He was also a philanthropist who helped build cancer hospitals in several states.

Why was a state funeral, accorded to Baba Siddique, a former minister, who was under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate?

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had given instructions to cremate former state minister Baba Siddiqui with state honours, said a post from the verified handle of the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office. "Between 2004 and 2008, Baba Siddiqui served as the Minister of State for various departments and as the President of MHADA [Maharashtra Hoiusing and Area Development Authority], it said.

Other than being a three-time Congress MLA, Baba Siddique was known to throw lavish iftar parties. His claim to fame was that he got Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who weren't seeing eye to eye, to hug each other at one such iftar party in 2013.

Author Madhu Purnima Kishwar called the state honours to Baba Siddique "Utterly disgraceful!".

"This is how 'demonocracy' and the attendant electoral politics of 'vote banks' force politicians to prostrate themselves even before mafia dons," said Madhu Kishwar, adding, "State honour at Baba Siddiqui funeral demeans the Indian state beyond belief".

The reference to the "vote bank politics" comes as Maharashtra is headed for crucial Assembly election around November.

Author-influencer Shefali Vaidya too questioned the state honours for Siddique.

"Baba Siddiqui was no saint himself! His murder is a result of gang rivalry. It is a shame that he is getting a state funeral," Vaidya posted on X.

NO QUESTIONS ASKED BY OPPOSITION ON STATE FUNERAL?

Though Opposition parties questioned the government over the law and order situation in the state after Siddique's murder, no political party questioned the government on the state honours for the three-time MLA. What could be the reason for this admirable unity across political parties of all hues, one wonders.

There are other popular leaders and politicians whose funeral are held without state honours. So, why such respects for Baba Siddique?

Some people are seeing political angle to it. Baba Siddique had switched from the Congress to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of Ajit Pawar in February this year. The Ajit Pawar-led faction of NCP is part of the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government.

"This state funeral to Baba Siddiqui alleged criminal with allegedly close links to D-gang was height of shamelessness by Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government," wrote a Mumbai-based content creator Kailash Wagh on X.

Baba Siddique was given a gun salute by the police as part of the state funeral.

"Why insult and abuse state honour and all over respected brave police officers and policemen to salute criminal during state funeral just to keep Ajit Pawar with Devendra Fadnavis," asked Wagh.

THE LOUSY EQUATION: TATA=SIDDIQUE

This is a bigger problem area. Baba Siddique was reportedly close to the Dawood Ibrahim gang and was being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

In June 2017, the ED grilled Siddique for nine hours for his alleged involvement in Rs 500-crore Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scam and his reported affiliation with Satra Group, with which he allegedly had a profit-sharing business deal.

Apart from the SRA scam, sources told India Today TV that Siddiqui was also being probed for his alleged links with the underworld.

Siddique denied all allegations of financial irregularities and allegedly used the "religion-card" before investigators, sources told India Today TV in October 2017.

In 2017, Devendra Fadnavis, now the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was the Chief Minister. Siddique was a member of the NCP, which is now part of the Shive Sena-BJP-NCP coalition. And there is no word on the ED case against Siddique.

That Ratan Tata and Baba Siddique's funerals are being mentioned in the same breath works perfectly for the latter. It is, in a way, an elevation for Baba Siddique. But what about the honourable Ratan Tata? Would he have fancied mention with such a controversial figure? With two state funerals, Maharashtra has gone for a lousy equation.