KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pusha Kamal Dahal defended the proposed amendment to Nepal's Constitution, claiming that it was on a par a proposal that the opposition had floated earlier.

"The government has registered the proposal to amend the Constitution at Parliament. It was put forth by the the [main] opposition party in the past. And all the parties had agreed to it," he said,  "There is no essence at protesting the same proposal now." He was speaking at a press meet in Pokhara today.

Also the chairman of the third largest party CPN Maoist Centre, Dahal went to to claim that the proposed amendment would not affect the national interest and unity. "Thus, there is no reason to have disagreement on it."

The government wants crisis resolution in consensus, he said, "I am making efforts for national unity maintaining Himal, Pahad and Tarai, and implementation of Constitution."

Showing it in a bad light doesn't benefit anybody, he added, "Resolution is possible through dialogue and agreement only."

He further reiterated that the proposal would not be withdrawn.

"There are some suspicions that the amendment proposal could be withdrawn. The amendment proposal would neither be withdrawn nor stalled. But it can be revised through the Parliamentary process," he maintained.

Prime Minister Dahal said the government was for holding elections in local level. "Elections of local bodies cannot be held. Elections will be for the local level."

"Propositions have been made that the elections should be held transformingthe existing local bodies to local level as per the transitional provisions[in the Constitution]," Dahal stated.

The issue would be settled in a few days, according to him.