Leaders of various religious groups have demanded to form a separate Ministry or department to look after religious affairs of the country to maintain religious harmony in the country.

Speaking at a symposium in the capital on Saturday, orgranized by Media Club Nepal, they hailed the decision of the parliament to declare Nepal as a secular state, but demanded some controlling mechanism to check the irregularities of religious sector.

Speaking at the programme, Dr. KB Rokaya, General Secretary of National Council for Churches of Nepal said that the government should ensure freedom of religion rather than declaring the state a secular one.

“There is no freedom of religion in many secular countries, so all should give proper attention to ensure freedom of religion,” he added.

Stating that it could be better if the issue of declaring Nepal a secular state was done through the election of the constituent assembly, Dr. Rokaya said that there is a need of extensive discussion to incorporate religious issued during the election of the constituent assembly.

Likewise, Chief of Bishwo Hindu Vidyapeeth, Dr. Chinta Mani Yogi has alleged that the parliament made the decision of making Nepal a secular state without proper homework.

He further warned that the decision of the parliament could disturb the religious harmony of the country. He however said that the decision was acceptable to him if it helps to restore peace and to find the peaceful outlet of the Maoist insurgency.

Chairman of Siddharth University, Dr. Sunanda Mahasthabir said that proper attention should be given to the minorities in the constitution to be formed after the election of the constituent assembly.

He demanded to form a separate ministry religious department under the Ministry of Education and Sports, to give equal importance to all religions of the country.

Speaking at the same programme, Najir Miya of Muslim Ittehat Association charged the state is adopting discriminatory policies among various religions and added that there should be proportional representation of all religious groups in the election of the constituent assembly.

He also demanded to form a commission comprising representatives of all religious communities to raise the religious issues during the election of the constituent assembly.

Senior journalist, Rama Krishna Regmi said that there should be proper study of cause and effect before expressing views in favour or against the decision of making Nepal a secular state.

He further added that secularism did not mean disrespect to the religion.