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?
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Rahul raises questions on Agnipath scheme, asks why life of one soldier is not same as another
New Delhi, Oct 13: After the death of two Agniveers in Nashik during training, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on why the life of one soldier is more valuable than the other.
He asked why the families of the two soldiers, who died as 'Agniveers' would not get the same pension and benefits as other martyred soldiers and said that he would keep fighting against this "injustice".
"The death of two Agniveers - Gohil Vishwaraj Singh and Saifat Sheet - during training in Nashik is very tragic. My deepest condolences to their families.
"This incident once again raises serious questions on the Agniveer scheme, which the BJP government has failed to answer. Will the families of Gohil and Saifat receive timely compensation that is equivalent to the compensation for any other martyred soldier?" Gandhi asked in a post in Hindi on X.
"Why will the families of Agniveers not get the benefits of pension and other government facilities? When the responsibilities and sacrifices of both the soldiers are the same, then why this discrimination after their martyrdom?" he asked.
The Congress leader said the Agneepath scheme is an "injustice" to the army and an "insult "to the martyrdom of our brave soldiers.
"The prime minister and the defence minister should answer why the life of one soldier is more valuable than that of another soldier," Gandhi said.
"Let's stand together against this injustice. Join our 'Jai Jawan' movement today to remove the BJP government's 'Agniveer' scheme and secure the future of the country's youth and army," he said.
Agniveers Gohil and Saifat died during a field firing exercise in Maharashtra's Nashik district.
Several people paid their last respects to Agniveer Vishvarajsinh Gohil, whose mortal remains were received at his native Anchvad village in Gujarat's Rajkot district.
