Activist Trupti Desai would be hit with slippers if she enters Haji Ali: Sena leader

Mumbai, April 23: A Muslim leader of the Shiv Sena has stoked fresh controversy. Reportedly, Sena leader Haji Arafat Shaikh has said that if Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade leader Trupti Desai tries to make entry into Haji Ali dargah, she would be attacked with 'chappals' (slippers).

Shaikh was quoted by ABP news as saying, "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".

The statement has been given, days after Desai announced that she would launch an agitation for women's entry in Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.

After successfully spearheading the agitation, seeking entry of women in Shani Shinganapur's sanctum, Bhumata Brigade recently launched 'Haji Ali For All'.

It was launched with the motive to facilitate women's entry to the shrine of Haji Ali in Mumbai.

"We shall launch the agitation at the Haji Ali shrine on April 28. However, we are ready to discuss the issue with its trustees", Desai said while talking to mediapersons.

The gender rights activist Trupti Desai who vowed to take forward the struggle for entry of women into worship places across the country, recently visited the Trimbakeshwar temple and offered prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum of the popular Lord Shiva shrine.

Interacting with newspersons outside the temple after the darshan, Desai said their struggle for gaining entry into Shani Shingnapur in Ahmednagar and now at Trimbakeshwar temple has succeeded.

The issue of gender bias hogged national limelight in January when hundreds of women activists attempted to storm into the Shani Shingnapur temple. After months of protests, and the Bombay High Court observing that entering a temple was a fundamental right of every person, the Shingnapur temple trust finally decided to allow womens entry on to the sacred platform (chauthara)--on which rock idol of Lord Shani is placed-- on April 8.

The decision opened doors for women to contest similar bans at other temples.

OneIndia news

(With inputs from PTI)