Trupti Desai enters Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah amid tight security

Mumbai: Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai this morning entered Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah to offer prayers amid tight security.

“Today I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality,” Desai said after offering prayers.

“At Haji Ali Dargah I prayed that women must be allowed to enter inner sanctum like they did before 2011. We saw where we are allowed till and where men go till inside Dargah,” she added.

The Bhumata Brigade chief also said they would stage a protest if the trustees don’t allow women to enter the shrine in the next 15 days.

Thursday’s event is the latest in Desai’s movement after last month she was denied entry to enter the shrine.

Desai, who had earlier announced that she would enter the dargah on April 28, launched the campaign ‘Haji Ali For All’ in April to allow women to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari and offer ‘chadar’ there.

The Haji Ali Dargah does not allow women to enter the inner chamber. Only men are allowed to go inside the Haji Ali Mazar and pray. This ban came into force in 2011. (ANI)