Know Asifa Khan: Muslim face of Modi's female support base

New Delhi: Narendra Modi's popularity among women folk has always been a subject of curiosity and media debate. Modi's supporters believe that the aggressive persona of Modi appeals to the women community and that's why Modi's rallies always witness a fair share of women supporters.But is Mod equally popular among Muslim women community? The question is very tricky because Muslim community as a whole has strong reservations over Modi's brand of politics.Still there are Muslim women who have emerged as fiercest supporters of Gujarat Chief Minister and Asifa Khan is one of them.Asifa has been recently made a member of the national executive of BJP's Minority Morcha and you can see him defending Modi especially his role in 2002 Gujarat riots on various channels.“Every Muslim, every Hindu feels it was unfortunate that it had to happen when he was ruling the State. But I must tell you that justice is being delivered under his very rule, he is not creating any hindrances anywhere,” Asifa told a newspaper sometime back .Asifa Khan, who is in her 40s, is a former journalist and had worked with local Gujarati newspaper Sandesh and briefly for Zee News as well.Asifa plunged into journalism leaving her studies midway. She was doing her MA in English at that time. She started her political journey with Congress before 2009 general elections was made a spokesperson of the party. She was also the media cell convener of the All India Mahila Congress.She was very close to Ahmad Patel, the powerful political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. One reason for Asifa Khan's proximity to Ahmad Patel was the fact that they both belonged to Bharuch district of Gujarat. Asifa left Congress just before 2012 assembly elections and joined Modi led BJP in Gujarat.Explaining her decision to join Modi bandwagon, Asifa said that she felt that she was not able to do anything as a member of Congress and that she felt there was better opportunity to work for the people of her area as a member of the BJP. It is said that she was an aspirant for a Lok Sabha ticket from Gujarat in 2009 but she could not get it and it was something that inspired her to look for better opportunities outside Congress. But Asifa denies it.