Women’s rights activist stopped from entering Haji Ali dargah
Women’s rights activist Vanita Gutte and her supporters were stopped from entering Haji Ali dargah on Friday evening over that fears the group might storm into the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum where women are not allowed.
Over 100 police personnel were deployed at the dargah as Gutte and members of her Swarajya Sanghatana staged a protest outside. Gutte (pictured) was earlier part of efforts to help women gain access to the sanctum sanctorum of Nashik’s Trimbakeshwar temple, which lifted a ban last month. Last week, activist and founder of Bhumata Brigade Trupti Desai had kept the Mumbai police on tenterhooks after she said she would try to enter Haji Ali dargah.
Gutte said on Friday she would not give up her fight. “I came to the dargah at 7.30 pm and the police have not allowed me inside since,” she told Mirror. “I will keep trying to get in.”
Though Gutte and Desai are fighting for the same cause — helping women to gain greater access at religious places — they do not see eye to eye. They organise almost simultaneous protests at shrines.
Desai said her equation with Gutte worsened during the protests against the ban on women inside Shani Shingnapur temple’s main area. At the time, Gutte had apparently joined a group that was opposed to Desai’s stir. “She first protested against me and then suddenly began supporting the cause to gain publicity,” Desai claimed.
“She followed me after I announced my plan to protest at Trimbakeshwar. She knew that because of me, the police and media were keeping a close watch at Haji Ali. She used the opportunity to gain mileage.” Desai added she would visit the dargah soon.
Over 100 police personnel were deployed at the dargah as Gutte and members of her Swarajya Sanghatana staged a protest outside. Gutte (pictured) was earlier part of efforts to help women gain access to the sanctum sanctorum of Nashik’s Trimbakeshwar temple, which lifted a ban last month. Last week, activist and founder of Bhumata Brigade Trupti Desai had kept the Mumbai police on tenterhooks after she said she would try to enter Haji Ali dargah.
Gutte said on Friday she would not give up her fight. “I came to the dargah at 7.30 pm and the police have not allowed me inside since,” she told Mirror. “I will keep trying to get in.”
DCP (zone 3) S Jayakumar said security was stepped up at the dargah the moment authorities got a whiff of Gutte’s plans.
Though Gutte and Desai are fighting for the same cause — helping women to gain greater access at religious places — they do not see eye to eye. They organise almost simultaneous protests at shrines.
Desai said her equation with Gutte worsened during the protests against the ban on women inside Shani Shingnapur temple’s main area. At the time, Gutte had apparently joined a group that was opposed to Desai’s stir. “She first protested against me and then suddenly began supporting the cause to gain publicity,” Desai claimed.
“She followed me after I announced my plan to protest at Trimbakeshwar. She knew that because of me, the police and media were keeping a close watch at Haji Ali. She used the opportunity to gain mileage.” Desai added she would visit the dargah soon.
