Baba Siddique shot dead: Opposition slams 'collapsed' law and order in Maharashtra

Baba Siddique was shot while he was bursting firecrackers outside his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office on the occasion of Dussehra.

In Short

• NCP leader Baba Siddique shot dead in Mumbai
• Opposition demands resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister, deputies
• Two of three accused arrested

The opposition slammed the Maharashtra government over the "collapsing" law and order situation in the state after NCP leader Baba Siddique was killed after being shot at outside his son's office in Mumbai on Saturday evening. Two people have been arrested in connection with his killing, while the third accused is still on the run.

Opposition leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, asking how the government would protect common people if they couldn't protect a political leader with a 'Y' category security cover.

While reacting to the news of Baba Siddique's killing, former chief minister and NCP (SP) chief asked the current government to accept the responsibility for the assassination and step down.

"The state's collapsed law and order situation is a cause for concern. The shooting of former state minister Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, is regrettable. If the Home Minister and the rulers are going to push the cart of the state so mildly, it could be an alarm bell for the common people," he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi asked how the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra could even think about protecting common people when they couldn't protect a leader of their own alliance.

"The question that is being raised is where is the law and order in Mumbai today? Today, if a protected person is murdered in this manner, then the question arises of how safe the common people will feel," she said.

Congress leader KC Venugopal called Siddique’s death a "massive loss" to the people of Maharashtra. He then went on to criticise the Eknath Shinde-led government over the shooting, claiming that the incident showed that “criminals no longer fear the law in Maharashtra”.

"This incident is a serious indictment of the crumbling law and order situation in Maharashtra. Siddique ji had on multiple occasions intimated the authorities about the threats to his life and he suffered despite being under Y plus security. That this shooting took place on the road, in the middle of bustling markets, shows that criminals no longer fear the law in Maharashtra," Venugopal said.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the incident took place due to the government's policies of providing support to criminals. He said girls, common people and even political leaders aren't safe in the state.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said Mumbai was once known for its law and order, but things took a turn for the worse after the Mahayuti government came to power in the state.

Baba Siddique was shot while he was bursting firecrackers on the occasion of Dussehra outside his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office around 9.20 pm.

As Siddique was bursting firecrackers on the occasion of Dussehra, three men emerged from a vehicle, their faces covered with handkerchiefs. They opened fire with a 9.9 mm pistol, firing three rounds, one of which struck Siddiqui in the chest, causing him to collapse on the spot.

India Today has obtained an exclusive image of one of the two accused who was arrested at the scene. A third suspect is on the run, and efforts are underway to catch him.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the strictest action would be taken against the accused. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar said that the mastermind behind the attack would be traced.