“If a ruling party leader is not safe…”: AIMIM leader Waris Pathan on Baba Siddique’s killing

Mumbai [Maharashtra], October 14 (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan on Sunday questioned the Maharashtra government’s failure to provide security to NCP leader Baba Siddique.

He also claimed that the NCP leader had written a letter to the authorities detailing about death threats he received.

“I will pray to God to give strength to his family members, and a strict investigation should be conducted in this case. Baba had written a letter stating that he was receiving death threats, so why was security not provided to him? And if security was granted, where were they when he was attacked? What were they doing? People are asking us, telling us, ‘Waris bhai, you should question this in the media, ask the police, and everyone about how this could happen in Bandra,” Pathan told ANI.

He added, “Mumbai is the financial capital; it is a hub, and such incidents are occurring here–first with Salman Khan, now with Baba Siddique.”

Pathan further criticized the Maharashtra government, claiming it has failed the people of the state.

While referring to the alleged involvement of the Bishnoi gang in the murder, he said, “Whatever they say, if someone in jail is orchestrating these attacks, then what is the government doing? If this is happening from jail, it is a clear indication of the government’s failure. To maintain law and order in the state, the government is totally failing. If a leader from the ruling party is not safe, one can only imagine what will happen to the opposition and the common man.”

Earlier, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised questions over the killing of Siddique, saying that the state government was not at all concerned about providing safety to the common people of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Owaisi said, “It is very disheartening to hear about the cowardly attack on Baba Siddique, in which he unfortunately lost his life. This shows the complete lack of will of political parties. This clearly shows that the current state government is not at all concerned about providing safety to the common people of Mumbai and Maharashtra in general.”

NCP leader Baba Siddique was murdered after being shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds before being rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday night.

His last rites were performed with full state honours in Mumbai at Bada Qabrastan on Sunday.