Baba Siddique was a well-recognized face in Mumbai’s leisure circles.
Mumbai:
Baba Siddique, a strongman recognized for his political acumen and function in bridging the divide between Bollywood’s greatest stars, was shot lifeless final night time. Mr Siddique, 66, a former MLA from Bandra West and a distinguished determine in Maharashtra’s political circles, was gunned down outdoors his son Zeeshan Siddique’s workplace in Bandra East.
The incident, which unfolded round 9:30 pm, noticed Mr Siddique and his affiliate focused by assailants who fired a number of rounds, fatally putting the politician within the chest. Hours after the capturing, the infamous Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed duty for the assassination.
Speedy Rise
Born Ziauddin Siddique, Baba Siddique’s rise in politics mirrored Mumbai’s tumultuous socio-political panorama. Starting his journey within the Congress occasion throughout his teenage years in 1977, Mr Siddique shortly ascended by way of the ranks, turning into a key determine inside the Bandra Taluka Youth Congress by 1980. His shut affiliation with veteran Congress chief Sunil Dutt paved the best way for Mr Siddique to safe his first electoral victory as an MLA from Bandra West in 1999, a seat he efficiently defended for 3 consecutive phrases.
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Mr Siddique’s tenure as Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Meals & Civil Provides, Labour, FDA, and Client Safety from 2004 to 2008 solidified his repute as an ready administrator and a staunch advocate for communal concord. His political manoeuvring was not confined to legislative chambers; he was equally adept at navigating Bollywood’s intricate dynamics, incomes admiration for his function in reconciling the notorious feud between superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.
Bollywood Connections And Iftar Legacy
Mr Siddique was a well-recognized face in Mumbai’s leisure circles, famend for internet hosting lavish Iftar events that introduced collectively luminaries from each politics and Bollywood. These gatherings turned iconic for his or her means to transcend social obstacles, uniting a lot of various backgrounds and a few who carried longstanding grudges in opposition to one another.
One such occasion in 2013 turned the stuff of legend as Mr Siddique orchestrated a reunion between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, who had drifted aside following a extremely sensationalized rift. On the peak of tensions between the 2 stars, Mr Siddique strategically seated Shah Rukh subsequent to Salman’s father, the legendary screenwriter Salim Khan, throughout his Iftar occasion. The symbolic gesture thawed the icy relations and restored camaraderie between Bollywood’s two greatest stars.
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Mr Siddique’s neighbours in Mumbai informed EDNBOX that the previous minister was “extraordinarily well mannered” however might be “powerful” when he needed.
Following the incident, Mr Siddique was rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital which shortly turned a hotspot for Bollywood’s who’s who. Actors together with Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Shilpa Shetty, amongst others had been seen reaching the hospital to satisfy the household of the previous minister.
Political Shift
After a long time with the Congress, Mr Siddique dropped a shocker and parted methods with the occasion, citing private causes for his departure, and joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Social gathering (NCP). Nevertheless, Mr Siddique’s ambitions confronted hurdles, together with authorized challenges stemming from an Enforcement Directorate investigation into his alleged involvement in a slum rehabilitation mission.
“My journey was with Indira Gandhi-Rajiv Gandhi-Sanjay Gandhi. The present Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is like my father. However typically some selections must be made in private life,” Mr Siddique had stated earlier than becoming a member of the NCP.
Political Reactions
Mr Siddique loved comradeship throughout occasion strains, due to this fact, his killing has drawn widespread condemnation from throughout the political spectrum, with senior politicians providing condolences whereas expressing outrage over the escalating violence in Maharashtra.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was among the many first to react, calling Mr Siddique’s homicide “surprising past phrases.” In an announcement launched on X (previously Twitter), Mr Kharge stated, “The tragic demise of former Maharashtra Minister, Baba Siddique, is surprising past phrases. On this hour of grief, I supply my deepest condolences to his household, associates, and supporters. Justice should be ensured, and the current Maharashtra authorities should order a radical and clear investigation. The culprits should be dropped at ebook on the earliest. Accountability is paramount.”
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Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, expressed comparable sentiments.
“The tragic demise of Baba Siddique ji is surprising and saddening. My ideas are along with his household on this tough time. This horrifying incident exposes the entire collapse of legislation and order in Maharashtra. The federal government should take duty, and justice should prevail,” Mr Gandhi wrote about his former colleague on X.
The ripple results of Mr Siddique’s assassination reached past Maharashtra. Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Chief Minister of Bihar and chief of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), expressed sorrow over the lack of a fellow chief with roots in Bihar. “The information of the homicide of Baba Siddiqui, one of many tall leaders of NCP, who hailed from Bihar, may be very saddening,” Mr Manjhi stated in a submit on X. “He was a full of life particular person. We request the Almighty to grant him a excessive place in his abode and grant persistence to his family members.”
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi joined the refrain of condemnation. In his submit, Mr Owaisi stated, “Baba Siddique’s homicide is very condemnable. It displays the deteriorating state of legislation & order in Maharashtra. Might Allah grant him maghfirah. My condolences to his household, associates & colleagues.”
Throughout the NCP, Mr Siddique’s homicide has prompted the cancellation of all scheduled occasion occasions. In an announcement on X, the NCP introduced, “Holding in view the tragic dying of our occasion colleague Baba Siddique, all occasion programmes for October 13, 2024 (Sunday) stand cancelled.”
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and NCP’s Nationwide President, additionally cancelled his extremely anticipated Jansanman Yatra, which was to happen in Amravati right this moment.
Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, has demanded a complete investigation into the homicide. Chaturvedi, reacting with shock to the information of Mr Siddique’s dying, prolonged her condolences to Mr Siddique’s son, Zeeshan, who can be a rising politician. “Shocked to listen to about Baba Siddique being shot lifeless. My condolences to Zeeshan Siddique, wishing him and his household a lot of energy of their hardest second. This lawlessness within the metropolis is unacceptable and ought to be probed by CBI,” Ms Chaturvedi stated.