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Gujarat protests against child's initiation as priest

Prominent social organisations and personalities in Gujarat have protested against the Baaldeeksha mahotsava scheduled at the Palitana Jain pilgrimage centre in Bhavnagar district on January 27 wherein reports say, among others, a 10-year-old girl would be initiated into priesthood.

In a release in Ahmedabad, the People's Union for Civil Liberties Gujarat unit general secretary Gautam Thakar said the press reports about the proposed programme were "shocking". The erstwhile Baroda state had banned initiating children into priesthood, he said, urging the state to introduce a law in this connection.

Those opposing the move, he continued, included former MP Jayaben Shah, eminent social worker Ela Bhatt and freedom fighter and educationist Manubhai Pancholi.

UNI

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