"We will enter the dargah in another 10 to 15 minutes," Trupti Desai told reporters from a spot around 50 meters from the dargah, where her team has been holding a protest since afternoon.
Highlights
- After a day of simmering tension, the Haji Ali dargah was shut
- Several teams of policemen were stationed in the area
- Ms Desai had campaigned against ban on women in Maharashtra' Shani temple
Rights activist Trupti Desai's efforts to enter Mumbai's Haji Ali dargah were foiled by policemen and locals this evening. The activist -- who had successfully campaigned against the ban on women entering the Maharashtra's Shani Shingnapur temple -- had planned to enter the dargah, one of the foremost Muslim shrines, which does not allow women in its core area.
After a day of simmering tension, the dargah was shut. Assuring that she would keep away from the areas in the shrine where women were not allowed, Ms Desai had been holding a demonstration at its gates since afternoon. With here were a group of around 10 women activists.
Promising that she would see Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about this, Ms Desai told NDTV, "The Chief Minister had backed us but what about Haji Ali? He should support us now."
"We won't leave till we enter the dargah," Ms Desai had told reporters. But later in the evening, the Bhumata Brigade leader had to leave the spot as several teams of policemen, who had turned the area into a high security zone, barred her from entering the shrine.
Despite the presence of policemen, Ms Desai said a group had had tried to attack her when she arrived. "People tried to enter my car and beat me up. The police should have handled law and order situation better," she said.
A local politician belonging to the AIMIM has threatened to smear Ms Desai's face with ink if she tried to enter the dargah's sanctum sanctorum, "even if I have to face arrest," Haji Rafat Husain was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.
Last week, Shiv Sena leader Haji Arafat Shaikh said Ms Desai would be hit with slippers if she tried to enter the Dargah. After an outpouring of anger, the Sena dissociated itself from Mr Shaikh's statement.
Ms Desai's campaign recently led to iconic Maharashtra temples like Shani Shignapur and Trimbakeshwar opening the doors of their core area to women.
But this was achieved after much conflict. At least twice since March, Ms Desai, who had announced her intention to storm the Shani temple -- was foiled by cordons of policemen and locals.