She was a well-known face in the BJP circles and the media’s darling.
As BJP MLA, Dr Maya Kodnani was a rising star in the party.
She was a well-known face in the BJP circles and the media’s darling.
But after her arrest by the SIT in riots cases, Kodnani has become quiet and hesitates to meet the media.
After showing much reluctance, Kodnani agreed to meet this correspondent but refused to utter a single word regarding the cases.
"I can only say that the law will take its own course and I have faith in God," Kodnani told DNA.
"I believe what happened in 2002 riots was wrong and I have sympathy for the victims, whether they are Muslims or Hindus," she said.
"I regularly attend the court hearings from morning till the end of the proceedings. Then I come to my clinic to attend patients and people who expect help from me," says Kodnani.
The big change is that, Kodnani earlier used to meet party workers and local people in early hours of the day regularly, but now she can meet people only after the court proceedings get over.
"God has given me power to serve people and solve their problems and I am still doing my job," she said.
Kodnani's political office is at the same building where she runs her hospital. People come to her to invite to functions and get their problems solved.
"People invite me and if cannot attend their functions, I do not forget to send my good wish or at least an SMS," she says.
The period after her arrest has become crucial for her political career.
While the court verdict which is expected anytime this year will decide where she goes further in politics, the delimitation of her Naroda assembly constituency will be an added worry for her. Now there are Naroda, Nikol and Thakkarnagar assembly constituencies carved out from Naroda _ with 2.25 lakh voters in each.
In the court, she defended herself by saying that she was not at the spot when riots took place. She was at Sola Civil Hospital with former minister Amit Shah. Even a couple of government officials had given statements in favour of Kodnani.
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