Baba Siddique shot dead: The murder of former Maharashtra Minister and senior NCP leader Baba Siddique by three unknown shooters sparked a political storm in the state. Many leaders like Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and Aaditya Thackeray regarded the shootout as a ‘government failure’. Meanwhile, Congress leader Atul L Patil ‘felt the incident could not happen without political conspiracy’.

Siddique died in hospital after he was shot by three men in Mumbai’s Bandra East on Saturday. So far, two people were arrested and one accused is on the run, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

Several political leaders expressed their concern over the demise of the former Maharashtra minister. “It is a very disturbing incident. Baba Siddique, a three-time MLA and someone who had Y security, was shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra. Is there any law and order in Mumbai? If this could happen to a known personality, then how can common people consider themselves safe?” said Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.

Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed regret over the demise of the senior political leader and said in a video message, “It is unbelievable that he is no more. It is hard to believe that such a senior politician was murdered in the middle of Mumbai. I hope that God will give strength to his family.”

Another party leader, Atul L Patil, highlighted the rise in criminal cases in Maharashtra and hinted at a political conspiracy in Baba Siddique’s murder.

“From small girls to politicians such as Baba Siddique, no one is safe here. This kind of incident is regularly happening in Maharashtra. I feel that this incident cannot happen without any political conspiracy,” ANI quoted Patil as saying.

Calling the former Maharashtra minister’s tragic death as a very unfortunate incident, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan said, “It is a very unfortunate incident and it is a personal loss for me as he was a very close friend of mine…It is a total failure of the government, they cannot provide security to their own person. What security os for the opposition?…”