Mumbai: After scoring victory for women's entry in the Shani Shingnapur Temple and Trimbakeshwar Temple, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade president Trupti Desai will on Thursday launch an agitation for access to women up to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari at famed Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, barricades have been set up around Haji Ali Dargah. Notably, the dargah does not allow women to enter into the sanctum sanctorum.
Trupti Desai and other activists have planned a protest at Haji Ali Junction in Mumbai today. The activists will enter the dargah till the area women are allowed.
Talking to news agency ANI today, Desai said she and other women activists will hold a peaceful protest to Haji Ali Dargah, will pray there and then tomorrow they will decide future course of action.
She further said Bollywood actors Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan should state their stand on what the women activists are trying to achieve here.
“That way I believe that their fan following will join us and support us in our fight for equality,” added Desai.
On April 20, 'Haji Ali For All' forum was launched by Trupti Desai along with several activists, NGOs and social groups to fight for women's entry to the shrine -- nearly six centuries old and nestling amid the rocks in the Arabian Sea off the Worli shoreline.
Last week, Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat Shaikh had threatened to "welcome with slippers" Desai if she dared to enter the tomb of the Haji Ali Dargah.
The prominent woman activist had, however, said she would not be intimidated by such such threats.
