Joining the small but growing list of individuals and organisations opposing the practice of Bal Diksha in the community ahead of one such ceremony to be held on a large scale at Palitana on Wednesday, the Sabha dubbed it a cruel practice, foisted onto children by the elders.

The Sabha says it respects the adult individual's decision to become Sadhu or Sadhvi, but the same can't be said of the young boys or girls. Instances of children going on to become great saints are always cited in support of the practice, but they are all exceptions, the sabha says exhorting the community to let children flower naturally.

It is unfortunate that the a few leaders of the community have threatened to take on opponents of the practice, especially when there are many leaders who endorse the reformatory line of thinking. More often than not the children under the influence of their parents or munis agree to take diksha.

The sabha recalls a similar opposition to the practice as far back as in 1990 when as many as 10 children below the age of 14 years from Surat and Navsari took diksha. The community should create a public opinion against the proposed ceremony at Palitana and respect opponents of the cruel practice, it said.