Kathmandu:

The Valley Christian Council (VCC) on Wednesday called on the government to establish a separate ministry to maintain religious harmony by settling disputes that might be triggered in the name of religion.

Jeet Bahadur Ghale, the VCC secretary, also called for early talks between the CPN (Maoist) and the government for the establishment of lasting peace in the country.

“We welcome the proclamation of the House of Representatives, which declared Nepal a secular state,” the VCC said in a press release, adding that the ministry would ettle ‘religious’ disputes and maintain religious harmony in the country.