Amid protests, Trupti Desai set to enter Mumbai Haji Ali dargah today

Mumbai: Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai, who led a successful campaign for women’s entry into temples like, Shani Shignapur and Trimbakeshwar now plans to enter Mumbai's famous Haji Ali dargah on Thursday. The historic dargah, which receives hundreds of devotees everyday, does not allow women to enter into its sanctum sanctorum. Last week, a local Shiv Sena leader had said that Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai would be hit with "slippers" if she tried to enter the Haji Ali Dargah. "If she (Desai) speaks about entering the Haji Ali Dargah, she will be welcomed with a 'prasad' of chappals. She cannot be allowed to enter the mazar at any cost," Arafat Shaik had said. Taking Shaikh's threat lightly, Desai said no threats will work against her plan and she will stick to it. The issue of gender bias hogged national limelight in January when hundreds of women activists attempted to storm into the Shani Shingnapur temple. After months of protests, and the Bombay High Court observing that entering a temple was a fundamental right of every person, the Shingnapur temple trust finally decided to allow women's entry on to the sacred platform (chauthara)--on which rock idol of Lord Shani is placed-- on April 8. The decision opened doors for women to contest similar bans at other temples. (With inputs from agencies)