Haji Ali Dargah has every right to bar women's entry: Congress leader

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Mumbai: After a Shiv Sena politician, a leader associated with the Congress party has now added to the controversy apropos of women's entry into the famous Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai.

Nizamuddin Rayeen has hailed the ban on women in the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali Dargah.

The chief of Mumbai Congress Minority Cell also lashed out at activists for seeking "an equal right to pray".

"The whole activism around the Haji Ali Dargah is being projected as gender discrimination, which is a wrong narrative. It is a religious matter. Why should others, such as Trupti Desai, be bothered about it," opined Rayeen.

"It is under the purview of the dargah management, whom they allow in the premises and till what line. They have every right to do that," Rayeen told DNA.

"If the activists really have faith in Haji Ali, they can pray outside the shrine or even sitting at home. Mann changa toh kathoti mein Ganga. They are creating a fuss only to malign the name of such a prestigious religious place," said the Congress leader.

When reminded that women were permitted in Ajmer and Deva Sharif dargahs, Rayeen said, "Once allowed inside, these activists would then want to do a kirtan in the dargah. There is no limit to freedom."

"Islam prohibits consumption of alcohol but many Muslims drink. This doesn't mean that prohibition should be scrapped."

On April 28, high drama and pandemonium prevailed as Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai and her band of around 50 women supporters tried to enter the dargah in Mumbai. However, their attempt was foiled by police, who were present in large numbers, and supporters of political parties like the Samajwadi Party, All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Awami Party and other Muslim social and religious organisations.

Earlier, Shiv Sena's Muslim leader Haji Arfat Shaikh threatened to welcome Desai with 'chappals' if she tried to enter the dargah, while AIMIM leaders warned of blackening her face.