Know Zafar Sareshwala, Modi's trusted Muslim adviser

New Delhi: It's not very common that you find a Muslim even indirectly defending Narendra Modi especially his role in 2002 Gujarat riots. Therefore when a Muslim decides to come across unabashedly as pro-Modi then it's bound to raise the hackles of conservative section of the community, leave alone the fringe elements. Zafar Sareshwala is one such Muslim who has emerged as one of the fiercest supporters of Narendra Modi. Today, he is one of the closest advisers of Modi, especially on his relationship with Muslim community, and can walk into Modi's office anytime.His open support to Modi becomes significant given the fact that he is a Muslim and belongs to the state of Gujarat that saw one of the worse communal riots in India since independence. Does he think that a person like Narendra Modi, who is accused by his political opponents of presiding over Gujarat pogrom, is a right choice for Muslims as the prime ministerial candidate? Actually, Sareshwala is more than confident about Muslims prospering under Modi's prime ministership.“Just as Muslims in Gujarat are getting financially strong, Muslims elsewhere too will if Modi becomes PM ,” Sareshwala told a newspaper in an interview.So who is this Zafar Sareshwala?50-year old Sareshwala belongs to Tablighi jamaat of Islam and his family hails from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.It's not that Sareshwala was always a Modi supporter. Zafar is a mechanical engineering graduate and expert in Islamic finance and banking.In 2002 when Gujarat riots took place, he was a banker living in UK and had organized anti-Modi rallies there.Sareshwala said that very soon he realized that Muslims can't be seen as antagonist of Modi forever and that establishing a communication line with Modi was a must for safeguarding Muslim interests and ensuring their economic growth.Therefore, Zafar met Modi in 2003 at St. James Court in London. That was a turning point in Zafar's life and his political ideology.Zafar said that Modi listened to him very carefully and confessed that 2002 riots were a blot on his CM tenure and that he will have to handle it.It was the beginning of a new relationship and in 2003 when Zafar wanted to get his family shifted to UK from Gujarat, he was advised by Modi not to do that.Modi asked Zafar,” Kab tak angrezon ki ghulami karte rahoge?”Zafar Sareshwala has been accused by the conservatives in his community as a ‘back stabber' who joined hands with Modi purely for his business interests. They call him “sheer opportunist”.A BMW dealership that his brother bagged in Gujarat has also earned him expletives from his community.His critics call him 'Mir Sadiq' and 'Mir Jaffer' of modern times. But Zafar is just unfazed and claims that the Koran and the Prophet's traditions, his two main guides, did not stop him from engaging with enemies. "The Prophet signed Sulah Hudaibiya, a seemingly humiliating treaty, with the then pagan Meccans who had oppressed him and his followers. This is the example that I follow and want my fellow Muslims to follow too," says Zafar.Zafar has got full support of his family as far his support to Modi is concerned. His three children support his stand on Modi. His father who died a few months back had advised him not to get distracted by criticism.And today, Zafar Sareshwala wants Indian Muslims to believe in Narendra Modi and give him a chance in 2014 to prove that he can bring happiness in the lives of Hindus as well as Muslims.