Rahul Gandhi Tears Into Maharashtra Govt Over Baba Siddique Killing: 'Complete Collapse Of Law & Order'

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Sunday claimed that the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique revealed the total breakdown of law and order in Maharashtra.

"The tragic passing of Baba Siddique ji is both shocking and deeply saddening. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time," Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

Photo Credit: PTI/https://x.com/BabaSiddique

"This horrifying incident highlights the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must be held accountable, and justice must be served," the Congress leader further stated.

Baba Siddique was ambushed by three men at Kher Nagar in Mumbai, just outside his son's office, at around 9:30 pm on Saturday and shot. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A three-time MLA for Bandra West, Siddique had joined Ajit Pawar's NCP in February this year after resigning from the Congress.

A well-known Muslim leader from Mumbai, Siddique was also known for his close connections with several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt.

The police confirmed that two individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been arrested, while a third suspect remains at large.

Siddique's security had been upgraded to Y-category after he received a threat to his life. While two of the attackers have been apprehended, one remains on the run, according to the Mumbai Police.

Opposition leaders called for the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, questioning how the government could protect ordinary citizens if they could not ensure the safety of a political figure with Y-category security.

Congress described Siddique's death as a "massive loss" to the people of Maharashtra.

"This incident is a damning indictment of the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra. Siddique ji had repeatedly informed the authorities of threats to his life, and despite being under Y-plus security, he still fell victim to this attack. The fact that this shooting occurred in broad daylight, on a busy road, shows that criminals in Maharashtra no longer fear the law," said Congress leader KC Venugopal.