Day after the murder of veteran leader Baba Siddique, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said police have found some leads in connection with the killing of NCP leader and former State Minister.

Various aspects of the murder are under investigation, but Fadnavis, who has authority over the state home department, informed reporters in Gondia district that the police will disclose more details later.

Siddique (66), a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, was ambushed by three individuals in Mumbai’s Bandra area and tragically shot outside his son’s office on Saturday night.

He succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital. Fadnavis expressed his shock over the incident, stating, “Baba Siddique was very close to me, and we had worked together for years.”

While some leads have been obtained, Fadnavis refrained from revealing them, emphasising that the police will share information once the legal process is concluded.

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has criticised the state government, calling for accountability and the resignation of those in power.

In response to Pawar’s comments, Fadnavis remarked, “He is solely focused on seizing power, even in the face of such grave incidents. His intentions are driven by power, whereas we are committed to the progress and safety of Maharashtra.”

A Mumbai police official today said that they have come to know about a viral social media post linked to an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claiming responsibility for Siddique’s murder.

Regarding this, the official stated, “We are in the process of verifying the authenticity of the viral social media post.” The murder is being investigated from various angles, including the possibility of a planned assassination, business rivalry, or threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.

The BJP has vowed not to spare those responsible for the killing and condemned Opposition parties for engaging in “petty politics” regarding the crime.

Additionally, BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain assured that the Maharashtra Police will pursue all involved in Siddique’s murder and criticised Opposition leaders for politicising the issue insensitively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and said it has emerged as a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionising India’s infrastructure by boosting multimodal connectivity, driving job creation, and improving logistics for Viksit Bharat.

In a post on X, PM Modi said the seamless integration of various stakeholders has led to boosting logistics, reducing delays and creating new opportunities for several people.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the initiative is transforming the infrastructure of the country driving progress, entrepreneurship and innovation.

“PM  GatiShakti National Master Plan has emerged as a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing India’s infrastructure. It has significantly enhanced multimodal connectivity, driving faster and more efficient development across sectors,” he said.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) was launched on October 13, 2021, to provide multi-modal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.

PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development which is driven by seven engines – railway, roads, ports, waterways, airports, mass transport and logistics infrastructure.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in its release on Saturday, highlighted the international outreach of the PM GatiShakti initiative. It said the diplomatic engagements are underway with countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Senegal, and Gambia to promote the utilisation of PM GatiShakti and geospatial technology in integrated infrastructure planning.

Furthermore, the government is contemplating granting access to non-governmental users to non-sensitive and shareable data relevant to infrastructure planning and development activities, ensuring the utmost security.

Regarding the accomplishments of the PM GatiShakti initiative in the past three years, the release pointed out that PM GatiShakti has successfully established the foundation for multi-modal connectivity and enhanced economic growth by fostering synergy among ministries, states, and union territories.

In three years, the initiative has integrated 44 central ministries and 36 states/union territories, incorporating over 1600 data layers, making it an indispensable tool for infrastructure project planning and execution.

Additionally, the release mentioned that more than 200 major infrastructure projects have been assessed by the Networking Planning Group (NPG) based on the principles of PM GatiShakti.

Moreover, the release emphasised that all 36 states and union territories have developed PM GatiShakti National Master Plan portals in alignment with the PM GatiShakti platform to synchronize infrastructure assets and bolster regional development.

This unified approach has facilitated the streamlining of capital investment by states for expediting infrastructure development, with over 533 projects being mapped on the PM GatiShakti portal.

Acknowledging the alignment with the National Logistics Policy (NLP), the release highlighted the role of PM GatiShakti in addressing crucial infrastructure gaps, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing India’s logistics performance.

Asserting that there is a complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed his grief over the killing of Ajit Pawar’s faction Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Mumbai last night.

Siddique, a former Maharashtra Minister and former Congress leader, was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra. He later succumbed to his bullet injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night.

Hitting out at the Maharashtra government over law and order, Gandhi said, “This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail.”

“The tragic demise of Baba Siddique is shocking and saddening. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time,” the former Congress chief said in a post on X.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his shock over the murder of the NCP leader and said justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra Government must order a thorough and transparent investigation.

The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest, he demanded.

“The tragic demise of Former Maharashtra Minister, Shri Baba Siddique is shocking beyond words. In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and supporters,” Kharge said in his post on X.

Accountability is paramount, the Congress chief asserted.

According to reports, the crime branch has taken over the investigation and is looking into potential motives including business rivalry, contract killing, and threats related to a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.

Officials have confirmed that two assailants have been arrested, and the police are searching for a third suspect in the case.

In the latest update on the killing of the NCP leader, the Mumbai Crime Branch stated that a total of six shots were fired at Siddique, three of which hit him.

The crime branch also mentioned that the third suspect has been identified and will be apprehended soon.

Earlier, doctors at the hospital reported that Siddique sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest before being taken to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment.

After visiting the family at Cooper Hospital, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar spoke to reporters and said: “The police have arrested two people. Additionally, the search is ongoing with five teams deployed for the same. CM (Eknath Shinde) and the Home Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) are also overseeing this. Everything will be disclosed in two to three days.”

Baba Siddiqui’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital for post-mortem. Ajit Pawar met Baba Siddiqui’s son and Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui at the hospital.

NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar has condemned the killing of former Minister Baba Siddique, expressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.

Retorting sharply at the state government, Pawar demanded that those in power not only announce investigations but also take responsibility and step down from their positions.

“The killing of former state minister Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, is regrettable. If the Home Minister and the rulers are going to push the cart of the state so mildly, it can be an alarm bell for the common people. There is a need not only to investigate this, but also to accept the responsibility and step down from the position of the rulers. A heartfelt tribute to Baba Siddiqui. Condolences to his family,” the NCP supremo said in a post on X.