Baba Siddique Death: Lost My Good Colleague And Friend, Says Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar described the attack on NCP ( Ajit Pawar ) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique as extremely unfortunate and condemnable.

Pawar, in a post on X, wrote, "The incident of firing on NCP leader, former Minister of State, my colleague Baba Siddiqui who has been in the Legislature for a long time is very unfortunate, condemnable and painful. I was shocked to know that he died in this incident. I have lost my good colleague, and friend. I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. I offer my heartfelt tributes to Baba Siddiqui."

Siddique died in hospital after being shot by three men in Mumbai's Bandra East area on Saturday night, officials said.

Two persons were arrested immediately after the incident that took place outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddiqui's office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, they added.

"We have lost a leader who fought for the minority community and championed secularism," he said, adding that a thorough probe would be conducted into the attack.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde earlier said Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar had told him that two alleged shooters have been taken into custody.

One of them is from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana , while a third accused fled from the spot, the CM told TV channels.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , who also holds the home portfolio, arrived at Lilavati Hospital where Siddique was admitted.

Siddiqui, a three-time-former MLA, had recently joined the NCP after quitting the Congress .

Leaders cutting across party lines condoled the death of Siddiqui, with some from opposition parties expressing concern at the law and order situation in Maharashtra .

"The firing incident is unfortunate, condemnable and painful. I am shocked to learn about his death," Siddiqui's party president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.

A thorough probe will be done and strict action will be taken against the guilty, he added.

NCP working president Praful Patel, a close friend of Siddiqui, said he was at a loss for words.

Congress -turned- BJP leader Ashok Chavan said he had worked with Siddiqui when both were in the grand old party, adding the news was shocking.

In a post on X, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said he was deeply shocked at the death of a "dear friend from my Youth Congress days".

NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar said it was worrying how the law and order situation had deteriorated in Maharashtra .

Former state home minister and NCP(SP) leader Anil Deshmukh as well as Congress ' leader and LoP in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar slammed the Eknath Shinde government for the incident.

A leader with 'Y' category security getting shot dead this way was shocking, the two said. (with PTI inputs)≠