MUMBAI: Ahead of state polls, the politics over deteriorating law and order situations and the shooting of former minister Baba Siddique heated up in Maharashtra resulting in the resigantion demand of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The opposition parties in Maharashtra on Sunday said the murder of NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique was "shocking and shameful" for the state and claimed that 'Gundaraj' is back in Maharashtra.
Former union minister Sharad Pawar demanded the resignation of home minister Devendra Fadnavis over collapse of law and order in the state. He in his social media post said that the shooting of Baba Siddique in the financial capital is not a good sign of law and order.
“The home minister is not serious in affairs and that is cause of concern and alarm bells for common men. Apart from proper investigation, the home minister should take the responsibility and step down from his ministry position,” Sharad Pawar said.
"If a leader from the ruling alliance is not safe, how can the government keep the common man safe?" NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil questioned.
In a statement, Patil also noted that earlier, a BJP MLA in the state had opened fire in a police station while a former corporator was killed during a Facebook live session.
Baba Siddique (66) was waylaid by three men at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area just outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office and shot at on Saturday night. He was taken to the Lilavati Hospital, where he was declared dead, as per the police.
The incident has prompted the opposition to question the law and order situation in the state, where the assembly elections are expected to be held next month.
"Atrocities against women continue in the state, while gang war has become routine in a city like Pune. It has become clear that law and order in the state has reached its lowest. If a leader from the ruling alliance is not safe, how can the government keep the common man safe?" he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, said the tragic demise of Siddique is shocking beyond words. "In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and supporters. Justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra Govt must order a thorough and transparent investigation. The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest. Accountability is paramount," he said.
AICC in-charge of Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala claimed Siddique's murder shows there is "complete anarchy in Mumbai."
"The rule of law is gone. CM & Dy CM must resign immediately, taking responsibility," he said in a post on X.
Leader of Opposition in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said the murder has proved that the law and order situation in the state has reached its nadir. In a letter to the Mumbai police commissioner, the Congress leader claimed Siddique had received a threat to his life 15 days ago.
Wadettiwar pointed out that Siddique was given Y-category security, and even his car was bullet proof. Despite this, the three assailants were able to shoot Siddique and kill him by pumping the three bullets at his chest and head. And his killers are 19 to 20 years old.
"Who is the mastermind? Some days ago, there was a firing outside the house of a film star. Is there any connection between Siddique's murder and the firing?" he wrote.
He also wrote about the murder of former corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar, who was gunned down earlier this year.
"This doesn't suit the image of the Mumbai police. I urge the police to take steps to ensure such things don't happen again," he said.
Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut called for the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister and state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "If Devendra Fadnavis doesn't resign, the governor must seek his resignation," he said.
Raut accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of interfering in the police's functioning and claimed that Fadnavis couldn't do anything. "Never before has the state home department failed in its duties," he said.
He further said that home minister Devendra Fadnavis who used to roam in huddy and put black spectacle to meet Ekanth Shinde in dark night so that no one could see him. He said the intention of changing the dress was to topple the Uddhav Thackeray government, but now he should come out from this huddy and ensure proper law and order in the state.
“The ruling party leaders are getting shot dead in Mumbai like a city. It's not the first case. Earlier also several such cases happened, but as home minister rather than doing his duty, he was more busy in politics and poaching the Opposition MLAs and breaking the parties. It’s the job of the government and home department to provide security and safety to the people. If they are failing with their leaders, then what about the common people,” asked Sanjay Raut.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further alleged that while gang wars in Mumbai had ended some years ago, there was a gang war going on in the government.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi asked, "The question is whether any law and order is left in Mumbai? If a protected person meets such fate, how will common people feel safe?"
(With inputs from agencies)
