A week after Trupti Desai's failed attempt to enter the Haji Ali Dargah seeking equal rights to pray for men and women, another group of women from Pune arrived in Mumbai on Friday to launch a similar movement.
Vinita Gutte, who runs Swarajya Sanghatana, reached the dargah on Friday evening, accompanied by several supporters.
Unlike Desai's Bhumata Brigade, Gutte's group insisted that they be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum, where entry for women was discontinued in 2011. The group failed to enter due to heavy police presence. When the doors were closed at 7:30pm, the activists decided to leave, but promised to return between May 22 and 25 to enter the shrine forcefully.
When questioned about her motives, Gutte said: "I just want women to be allowed into the inner sanctum. I am doing my bit in the 'equal rights to pray' movement. We will collaborate with others to keep the pressure on."
Like Desai, Gutte blamed the police for not letting her in.
Dargah trustee Sohail Khandwani said, "The matter is in the court and all activists must await a verdict."
"Vinita wanted to enter the dargah with protestors. It's a religious place and keeping in mind the sentiments of people, we requested her to visit as a normal devotee. She refused and so we denied her permission to enter," said a police officer.
