‘Oppn Has No Moral Right to Criticise Fadnavis on Law & Order’: BJP’s Mumbai MLA on Baba Siddique Case

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Mumbai, Atul Bhatkhalkar, on Monday countered the Opposition’s criticism of Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis and demands for his resignation over the recent law and order situation in the state after the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

Bhatkhalkar highlighted the record of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, specifically its home minister Anil Deshmukh, who was imprisoned on bribery charges. He reminded the Opposition that during the MVA rule, police officers were allegedly instructed to extort money from industrialists under Deshmukh’s tenure. He also referred to another high-profile cabinet minister who faced jail time due to his alleged connections with the Dawood Ibrahim gang (D-gang), underlining the MVA’s tainted record in governance.

Contrasting this with the current Mahayuti (Shinde-BJP) government’s efforts in ensuring a speedy investigation in the Siddique murder case, he said two of the perpetrators were apprehended by the state police within 12 hours of the crime, which demonstrated the government’s strong stance on tackling crime. “The third accused is currently on the run, but he will be captured soon,” he said.

Bhatkhalkar further criticised the Opposition for the “baseless” targeting of Fadnavis, arguing that MVA’s allegations were an attempt to distract the public from the failures of their own tenure, which he described as plagued with corruption scandals and administrative inefficiency.

The MLA’s comments come at a time when politics in Maharashtra is charged with intense debate over the safety and security of citizens. The murder of Baba Siddique, a prominent figure in the state’s political circles, has escalated into a larger controversy, with the Opposition accusing the ruling government of failing to maintain peace. Siddique’s killing is seen by many as a litmus test for the current government’s handling of crime, and opposition leaders have seized the moment to criticize Fadnavis, demanding accountability for the state’s law enforcement mechanisms.

However, by capturing two of the three suspects within less than a day, the Mahayuti government aims to demonstrate its commitment to law and order, contrasting sharply with the opposition’s claims of inefficiency.