A Muslim leader of the Shiv Sena today said that activist Trupti Desai would be hit with slippers if she tried to enter the Haji Ali Dargah next week.

"Trupti Desai says she will enter and touch Mazaar at Haji Ali, we strongly condemn this. If she makes an attempt then she would be welcomed with 'prasad' of chappals," Haji Arafat Shaikh said.

"I will become the voice of my religion and won't let her touch the mazaar. Many Muslim women are also opposing her," he added.

Haji Arafat Shaikh, who joined the Shiv Sena after leaving Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2014, also said that Desai's attempt to enter the dargah was a conspiracy to disturb the peaceful environment in Mumbai.

The Muslim leader's remark came days after the Bhoomata Ranragini Brigade chief announced that she along with other women would offer prayers at the Dargah. However, unperturbed by the Shiv Sena's comments, Desai said that she would continue with the cause.



The Shiv Sena, however, distanced itself from the comment. Shortly after his remarks created a furore in various circles, party spokesperson and legislator Neelam Gorhe rejected Shaikh's statement and even warned of action against him.

"This is purely his personal view on the issue. It is not the Shiv Sena stand, which is clear and we respect the Bombay High Court decision," Gorhe sai.



"Our group will be going to Haji Ali Dargah on April 28, Shiv Sena's threats won't work," said Desai, who earlier successfully led the movement for women's entry to the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik and Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar.

Earlier, Desai along with several other women, NGOs and social groups, had also launched a forum 'Haji Ali For All' to campaign for women's entry to the shrine.



Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court will hear the petition challenging the Haji Ali Trust's decision to ban the entry of women into the sanctum of the shrine.

In February, the Maharashtra government had supported the entry of women to the Haji Ali Dargah. However, the Haji Ali Dargah Trust justified its stand on the ground that allowing women to the shrine would be against the religion.

Also read: Trupti Desai offers prayers at Trimbakeshwar temple, likely to meet PM Modi next month

