Baba Siddique's Death Shows Poor Law and Order Situation in Maharashtra, Says Mallikarjun Kharge

Kalaburagi (Karnataka): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday stated that the assassination of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique highlights the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra .

"The people will teach a lesson to the ruling coalition government in the state in the upcoming election," he added.

NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot by three assailants in Mumbai on Saturday, and two of the attackers have been apprehended.

"It is quite visible that there is a complete failure of law and order in Maharashtra because in broad daylight it happened," Kharge told reporters in his hometown of Kalaburagi, which borders Maharashtra.

Kharge further revealed that just two weeks prior, Siddique had alerted the government about potential threats against him. He even communicated his concerns to the police commissioner, expressing his fear for his life. 

"Why no protection was given to him? Why the situation reached this stage and why the culprits could not be caught? It means law and order has collapsed there," he said.

The Congress chief alleged that the current government is confused, as three parties are involved in decision-making, leaving bureaucrats uncertain about whom to heed. 

"Law and order problem has worsened there. People will teach them a lesson in the upcoming election," he remarked.

Siddique, 66, was attacked outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, Bandra East. After being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. 

A notable Muslim leader in Mumbai, Siddique had previously represented the Bandra (West) seat three times in the Assembly and was known to have close ties with several Bollywood stars.

(With PTI inputs)