Don't politicise Baba Siddique's murder: Ajit Pawar
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said his party leader Baba Siddique's murder should not be politicised and asserted the state government will not rest till the guilty are brought to book.
Baba Siddique (66), a former state minister, 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.
The incident prompted the opposition to target the Maharashtra government and raise questions over the law and order situation in the state, where the assembly elections are expected to be held next month.
Ajit Pawar on Sunday visited the Cooper Hospital in Mumbai, where Baba Siddique's body was shifted for postmortem.
He said the NCP has been devastated by the tragic loss of Baba Siddique, a leader deeply loved by many, and personally, he has lost a dear friend whom he had known for years.
"We are heartbroken, struggling to grasp the cruelty of this incident. This is not just a political loss, it's a deeply personal tragedy that has shaken us all," the NCP leader said in a post on X after visiting the hospital.
"I strongly urge everyone to resist the temptation to politicise this horrifying event. This is not the time for division or for exploiting the pain of others for political advantage. Right now, our focus must be on ensuring that justice is served," he said.
The government will not rest until those responsible for the killing are brought to account, the deputy CM said.
"We honour the immense grief of Baba Siddique's family, who have suffered the greatest loss. Let us show respect and compassion rather than allowing opportunistic voices to turn this tragedy into a political spectacle," he said.
Ajit Pawar's comments come in the backdrop of his uncle and opposition NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's remarks that those in power don't need to just announce an investigation, rather they need to accept the responsibility and step down from their positions.
"The collapse of law and order in Maharashtra is a cause for concern. My heartfelt tributes to Baba Siddiqui and condolences to his family," Sharad Pawar said in a post on X late Saturday night.
"The shooting of former minister Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, is regrettable. If the home minister and those in power are going to take the running of the state so lightly, this will sound an alarm bell for the common man," the former Union minister added.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala claimed Siddique's murder shows there is "complete anarchy in Mumbai."
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said if a protected person meets such fate, how will be common people feel safe?
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
