A Muslim leader from the Shiv Sena has said that Bhumata Brigade leader Trupti Desai would be hit with chappals if she tried to enter Haji Ali Dargah on April 28.
“Trupti Desai has announced that she will enter the Haji Ali Dargah on April 28. The Muslim community has reacted negatively to this declaration. If Desai tries to enter the dargah, then she will be beaten with chappals,” said Haji Arafat Shaikh in a statement issued on Saturday.
However, the party has distanced itself from the leader by terming his statement as “personal view”. Ms Desai is however undeterred and said she would go ahead with her decision and not bow down to pressure.
Mr Shaikh said he has opposed Ms Desai’s entry into Haji Ali Dargah as it would hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.
However, later speaking with media, he retracted his statement and said that it was the sentiments of Muslim women he was talking about and was not his personal opinion.
He has even alleged that Ms Desai was playing with people’s emotions to seek publicity and was creating controversies.
“As per Muslim laws, its is prohibited for women to enter a dargah. They can go up to a certain point. Trupti Desai is unnecessarily creating trouble and hurting the sentiments of Muslims. She should stop this agitation and take up issues of social cause. We will not allow her to enter the dargah,” Mr Shaikh said. However, Mr Shaikh’s phone was switched off throughout the day.
Mr Shaikh is the leader of the party’s transport union Shiv Vahtuk Sena. He was earlier with Sena’s arch rival MNS. He is also the nephew of Sena’s late leader Shabir Shaikh.
However, Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe supported the women activists and said that the party’s stand has always been in favour of them.
“Late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray was positive about women being given equal rights. The court has also given a clear verdict. Women should have equal rights to worship on par with men and the state government should provide them protection in that case. Shaikh’s views are personal and have nothing to do with the party’s official stand,” Ms Gorhe said.
When asked if the party would be taking action against him for the statement, Ms Gorhe said the Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would take a call on the matter.
Meanwhile, Ms Desai said the protest would take place on April 28. “We will continue with our protest as the Constitution has given us equal rights. Women were allowed to enter Haji Ali Dargah till 2011, but later it was stopped. On the other hand, women can enter the Mahim Dargah. This is discrimination and our fight is against it. We will not bow down to pressure and will hold the protest outside the dargah,” she said.
Ms Desai, along with some Muslim women, has launched a campaign ‘Haji Ali for all’ three days ago and she said that plans to continue with the stir for entry in temples.
