KAVRE, August 1 CPN-UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali on Saturday said that Nepal would not be a religious country. Talking to mediapersons in Dhulikhel, Gyawali made it clear that the country would incorporate a clause of religious freedom in the new statute. Stating that a discussion was under way on the feedback received from people on reinstating the country as Hindu state, he said that Nepal should be neutral in respect to religion and ethnicity. He signaled that parties could seek an alternative terminology to secularism. Commenting on the overwhelming feedback on the Executive head directly elected by the people, Gyawali said that it would not be possible to change the existing system of governance unless Nepali Congress was ready for it. “UML is convincing NC on it, however, amendment to the parliamentary system and statute promulgation is impossible without their support,” he added. He said that it was wrong to accuse UML of hastening statute promulgation so as to help UML Chair KP Sharma Oli reach power. “All the political struggle would be worthless if statute promulgation was further delayed,” he added. Gyawali said UML would take people’s feedback whereas directly elected Ward Chairman and threshold provision, among others, would be incorporated in the new statute. He informed that parties in the CA were working hard for statute promulgation after demarcation and naming of federal provinces, adding that CA would be able to deliver the new statute by mid-August. He criticised goverment’s failure to punish people openly voicing the right to secede.