Over 20 outfits including NGOs have come together to reclaim the 'equal rights to pray' at Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah
As women rights activist Trupti Desai is all set to lead the movement to Haji Ali Dargah next week, a Muslim leader of the Shiv Sena has said that Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade leader would be hit by chappals if she attempts to enter the dargah.
After the successful right-to-pray campaign centred around the Shani Temple in Ahmednagar district, and Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik district, a similar public-backed movement has been launched to seek entry of women into the core area of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
Over 20 outfits, NGOs and human right activists in last week announced formation of 'Haji Ali Sabke Liye' to peacefully campaign against the ban on entry of women into the interiors of the 15th century Sufi shrine, located on a small islet in the Arabian Sea and visited by hundreds of people everyday.
“Trupti Desai says will enter and touch Mazaar at Haji Ali, we strongly condemn this. If she makes an attempt then she would be welcomed with ‘prasad’ of chappals,” reported ABP quoting Haji Arafat Shaikh, a Muslim leader of the Shiv Sena.
Arafat, who joined the Shiv Sena after leaving the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2014, said that the attempt by Desai to enter the Haji Ali Dargah is a conspiracy meant to disturb Mumbai's peaceful environment.
"I will become the voice of my religion and won’t let her touch the mazaar. Many Muslim women are also opposing her,” Shaikh added.
The Bombay High Court is hearing a petition challenging the Haji Ali Trust's decision to ban the entry of women into the sanctum of the shrine. The Maharashtra Government had in February supported the entry of women to the Haji Ali Dargah. The government had told the Bombay High Court that the entry of women cannot be prohibited.
(With PTI/ANI inputs)
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