Two faces of 2002 Gujarat riots meet in Kerala

The 40-year-old Ansari is now happily married with three children; the 39-year old Mochi, by contrast, does not even have a voter's ID, and has been deprived of the benefits of all government schemes.

They sang, shook hands, and Ansari accepted a rose from Mochi. Behind them were posters carrying the pictures that had made them famous.

Ansari has been trying to stay out of the public eye ever since his picture was used in an email allegedly sent by the Indian Mujahideen.

Mochi said he has decided to devote his time to working for Hindu-Muslim amity, and to “improving my image of a communal zealot”.

Kaleem Siddiqui said his objective was to expose the lie that Muslims had started supporting Modi, and that they would vote BJP in the coming polls.

He said Urdu, English and Gujarati versions of Ansari's autobiography would be brought out subsequently.