Bhumata Brigade leader Trupti Desai visited the historic Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai today to “celebrate” the Bombay High Court’s “historic” ruling lifting the ban imposed on women from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine.
“I went there with fifteen other women activists to mark this historic occasion,” said Desai.
It was in 2011 that the dargah banned the entry of women to pray inside the restricted core area or inner sanctum. Zakia Soman and Noorjehan Safia Niaz of Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) had filed a public interest litigation in 2014. “Their victory is our victory too,” said Desai.
Earlier this year, women gained full access to the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra. “We will visit the Sabaraimala temple in Kerala in fifteen days. Women are banned from entering the temple too,” said Desai.
Thanking the people of the country, including Muslims, for their support, Desai requested the Dargah’s trust to not move the Supreme Court against the HC’s judgement, but exuded confidence that the apex court would rule in women’s favour if such a step was taken, PTI reported.