Exclusive | Even in his last moments, my father saved me, says Zeeshan Siddique

Sometimes I find myself going blank every 10 to 15 minutes wondering if this has really happened Even in his last moments my father saved merdquo Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique told midday while recalling the day his father NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique was murderedAmid shifting loyalties and the shadow of his fatherrsquos tragic death over the Bandra East Assembly constituency the 32yearold legislator opened up about his emotional struggle and determination to serve the Bandra East constituency as he seeks reelectionSpeaking to midday during a rally outside Bandra court Zeeshan said ldquoNot a single day not a single moment goes by since that day I donrsquot miss my fatherhellip It has become a nightmare for merdquoZeeshan Siddique Bandra East MLA addresses a rally outside Bandra court on Tuesday PicKirti Surve ParadeOn October 12 Baba Siddique 66 was shot dead by three men outside Zeeshanrsquos Bandra East office around 930 pm According to police six bullets were fired with four hitting Siddique and another injuring an aide in the leg He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead The loss has been deeply personal and overwhelming for Zeeshan who finds it challenging to visit his office now a painful reminder of the tragedy ldquoI miss my father in every aspect of life I miss him at night I miss him in the morning I miss him at every moment and I think other than me everyone here in this constituency misses himrdquo he saidldquoMy fatherrsquos death is something that I cannot come to terms with I had just left my office and right outside my office this tragic incident happened So it is very tough for me to even go to my officeBut I have been raised as a fighter and my father taught me to never leave the fight from the battlegroundrdquoThe MLA said he was determined to continue Siddiquersquos legacy by contesting the election by doing so honouring both his fathers memory and the wishesof his constituencyldquoI am doing this contesting the election for him and doing this for the people of my constituency They want me to repeat my term they want me as their MLA My father is someone whom I always wanted to make proud I am sure he is up there smiling and guiding me and I am sure I will make him proudrdquo he saidlsquoWould have taken his placersquoReflecting on the devastating incident Zeeshan admitted that he would have willingly taken his fatherrsquos place ldquoAs a son I would rather have it the bullet hit me than my father if I was there I would have gone instead because right now the life that I am living is quite meaningless and empty But was the scenario different and if there was a bullet coming my way or my fatherrsquos way and I was present I would have taken the bullet hands down100 out of 100 timesrdquo he statedThe timing of his departure from the office just two minutes before the attack haunts him ldquoThis is something that is going to haunt me all my life I donrsquot know how things will be different but in his last moments too my father saved my life Now I think that if I am alive I am alive for a reasonrdquo he saidZeeshan said he is determined to fight the battles his father started especially for the underprivileged who face systemic challenges ldquoAs you see a lot of people from humble backgrounds are fighting to have their own houses This is the battle we have been fighting My father was fighting I have been fighting against adversity the cruel system And I am going to continue to do so My father lost his life doing so and I am not scared anymore After I lost the most important part of my life what else is there What else can I lose nowrdquoPolitical shiftZeeshan joined the NCP Ajit Pawar faction on October 25 citing that he had been misled by the Congress and was kept in the dark by the party all along about his candidature In 2019 he won the Bandra East Assembly seat on a Congress ticket defeating Shiv Senarsquos Vishwanath Mahadeshwar a former Mumbai mayor His recent shift to the NCP has attracted criticism from some quartersAddressing critics and rivals Zeeshan expressed confidence in his connection with the constituency ldquoI know that more than 75 to 80 per cent of the constituency is with me So it really doesnt matter who contests against me My father is not around me physically but he is there with me in my heart Every morning when I wake up I talk to him every night before going to sleep I take his guidancerdquo he statedThe MLA added ldquoThe fact that I am standing here talking to you a few days after somebody shot my father itself shows the strength that he instilled in me is still thererdquoOct 25Day Zeeshan joined NCP