After the Bombay High Court’s judgment of lifting the ban on women to enter Haji Ali dargah and access till the Mazar (sanctum sanctorum), activist Trupti Desai visited Haji Ali on Sunday afternoon and offered a chaddar as thanksgiving. According to the reports, she has urged the trustees to support the court’s decision and not not approach the Supreme Court.

Desai said, “We are not fighting against any community. We are fighting for our rights. Last time when we came, we prayed that the High court verdict should be on our side. Now that the verdict is out, we have come here to offer ‘chaddar’ and seek blessings.”

Although the Bombay High Court has lifted the ban on women to enter the sanctum sacntorum of the dargah, the sanctum sanctorum will be opened for women only after six weeks.

On trust’s right to approach the Supreme Court, Desai said, “We are no one to stop them. The High Court has given a historic judgment. We request the trustees to follow this verdict. But if they want to go to SC, they can go ahead.”

On the other side, Abdul Sattar Merchant, chairman of Haji Ali trust claiming the trust’s unhappiness over the judgment, said, “Islam does not allow women to go inside the shrine. It also does not allow women to visit graveyards, and the inner sanctum is a grave. One can stand few meters away and pray too. Why do they need to touch it? They came and offered prayer and gave the chadar to Khadim. We don’t have problem with that.”

Trupti Desai’s Bhumata Brigade, after attempting to enter in Shani Shingnapur temple and Trimbakeshwar temple, tried to enter the Haji Ali dargah, earlier. She also want to enter the Sabrimala temple, where also the women’s entry is banned. She said, “Girls between the ages 10-50 years are not allowed inside the shrine for Lord Ayyappan in Kerala. Our next fight will be for the right to pray in Sabarimala temple.”

By Prajakt K.