MUMBAI: A road sensible “Bandra boy”, a go-getter with a coronary heart of gold. Some residents, neighbours and buddies who had identified Baba Siddique for years mentioned he would assist everybody who approached him.
Pali Hill resident and Congress functionary Asif Farooqui, who had identified him because the days Siddiqui helped his father, Abdul Rahim Siddique, with social work, mentioned, “His father would create a short lived facility for namaz throughout Ramzan at his constructing, and I bear in mind him serving to his father.He would journey a scooter and get civic and different works finished. That is how he acquired early publicity in social works. Later, he learnt the ropes underneath the tutelage of actor-MP Sunil Dutt sahab.”
Educationist and former MP Akhtar Hasan Rizvi, who had identified Siddique since his days in Youth Congress, known as him a “good organiser and secular particular person”. “He was accessible to all and labored so much to create a cadre of Congress in Bandra. His reputation transcended class and communities.”
Social activist Mudassar Patel, who had identified him for many years, mentioned, “At any time when I requested him to attend the Ramzan ration distribution programmes at Anjuman Faculty in Bandra West or elsewhere, Baba would come. He would additionally contribute magnanimously.”
Madhu Poplai, secretary of the Pali Hill Residents Affiliation, who knew Siddiqui for over 20 years, described him as a politician who hardly ever refused to assist with civic points. “He lived within the locality and had a deep understanding of its challenges. I vividly bear in mind him standing with us on Nargis Dutt Highway at 3am whereas it was being laid. That highway lasted over 15 years. He by no means thought-about an individual’s political leanings once they approached him for assist.”
A lot is being mentioned about Siddique’s annual iftars, however Congress MLA Amin Patel mentioned he equally cared for the poor. “If he held iftar dinners for celebrities and different wealthy individuals, he would sponsor iftar dinners for the poor, too. He stood by the needy,” mentioned Patel. Bandra resident and Anjuman-I-Islam president Dr Zahir Kazi, who had identified Siddique since his days in pupil politics, mentioned, “He was road sensible and confirmed qualities to develop into politician from the start.” Dr Kazi added that simply three weeks in the past, he met him on the airport the place Siddique informed him he needed to arrange an academic establishment in his native Bihar in addition to right here.
Al Nasser Zakaria, son of former MLA Salim Zakaria who helped Siddique develop into a corporator within the early Nineteen Nineties, mentioned. “No one returned empty-handed from his residence. He labored tirelessly throughout Covid,” he mentioned.
(With inputs from Richa Pinto)
