Photo: Siasat
Bhopal: Senior advocate Sajid Hussain Siddiqui, who played a key role in establishing the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Madhya Pradesh and served as the first president of its state unit, died on the intervening night of July 18 and 19. He was laid to rest at the Jahangirabad graveyard, where a large number of people attended his funeral.
A veteran lawyer who practised in Bhopal for several decades, Siddiqui was known for combining his legal career with political and social work, particularly on issues affecting minorities and other marginalised communities, Siasat Daily reported.
At the bar, Siddiqui handled a wide range of cases but was especially associated with matters concerning civil liberties, prisoners' rights, communal harmony and access to justice for economically disadvantaged people. Colleagues described him as a lawyer of integrity whose legal acumen earned him respect within the legal fraternity.
Siddiqui was among the leaders who established the SDPI's Madhya Pradesh unit soon after the party was founded at a national convention in New Delhi on June 21, 2009. Prior to joining the SDPI, he had served as the president of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Samajwadi Adhivakta Sabha.
He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the Bhopal constituency as the SDPI candidate under the name Master Sajid Siddiqui. Although he was unsuccessful, he continued to remain active in electoral politics and public affairs.
Siddiqui also participated in several fact-finding missions alongside national SDPI leaders on issues relating to constitutional rights and communal harmony. He frequently raised concerns over what he described as the declining political representation of Muslims in Madhya Pradesh and advocated greater unity among marginalised communities.