Activist Trupti Desai Enters Mumbai's Haji Ali, But Not Inner Shrine

At around 6 am today, women rights' activist Trupti Desai entered the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai where she was denied entry last month. The episode had ended in a bitter scuffle with the police and locals, shutting down the dargah for a day.

Ms Desai however did not attempt to enter the inner sanctum or the core area of the Haji Ali, one of the foremost Muslim shrines, where women are not allowed. She was accompanied by a group of policemen and other activists.

"Prayed that women be allowed to enter the inner sanctum," Ms Desai said after her visit amid tight security.


The activist and her Bhumta Brigade has been campaigning against the ban on women entering religious places and had successfully broken the practice at Maharashtra's Shani Shingnapur temple in March.

In her last attempt to enter the dargah, Ms Desai faced vehement opposition from the locals. She alleged that people tried to break into her car and beat her up and blamed the police for not handling the situation well.

Ms Desai had said that she would enter the dargah even if she has to face arrest after a local politician belonging to the AIMIM had threatened to smear Ms Desai's face with ink if she tried to enter the dargah's sanctum sanctorum. After a foiled attempt to enter the dargah on April 28, Ms Desai had said that she would seek the support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat Shaikh had said Ms Desai would be hit with slippers if she tried to enter the dargah. After an outpouring of anger, the Sena dissociated itself from Mr Shaikh's statement.

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