SC verdict on Haji Ali Dargah gets mixed reactions

The Haji Ali Dargah Trust told the apex court on Monday, that it will give access to women inside the inner sanctum sanctorium of the dargah. While, the dargah trust also claims that they will restrict the access to both men as well as women few distance away from the mazar (grave).

Speaking about the restricted access which will be given by the dargah trust, Imran Sheikh, who visited the dargah on Monday evening, said, "We can start praying anywhere. To offer a prayer we do not need to touch the grave. We can stand few distances away and offer prayer. The women are getting to enter the inner sanctum which is just few distances away. Fighting for access into the sanctum sanctorium makes sense but why to fight to touch the graves."

Echoing his comments, Faisal Khan, 34, another visitor, added, "They should re-think on the decision rather than restricting both men and women."

Viveka Pal, who was visiting the dargah for the first time, said, "Equal rights should be given to both the genders, no matter which religion we are from. If the dargah's trust can't allow both the genders to touch the mazar, their decision to restrict both men as well as women is fare."

The dargah trust challenged the Bombay High Court's decision about lifting the ban on women from entering the sanctum sanctorium.

"Few years ago, the women were allowed and later they restricted it. The trust should give us equal opportunity to go inside the sanctum sanatorium rather than fighting in the court to restrict us. The fight is to allow the entrance till mazar rather than restricting both the genders" said, a woman.