The BJP MLAs, who returned to the Delhi Assembly after annulment of their suspension, walked out of the House on Saturday alleging that they were not allowed to speak on the budget of Arvind Kejriwal government.

 Speaker Ram Niwas Goel in a statement charged that the BJP MLAs conduct was “ disruptive”, leading to chaos and interruption of the legislative proceedings and they disrupted the chief minister’s address to the House on the budget 2024-25.

 Seven of the 8 BJP legislators, barring Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, were suspended by the Speaker earlier over their alleged disruption of the Lt Governor’s address to the House on the first day of the budget session on February 15.

 Bidhuri alleged that the speaker was running the legislative assembly “arbitrarily and unconstitutionally”, and the opposition was again denied the opportunity to speak on the budget.

 The BJP MLAs after the Delhi High Court order, returned to the House after 17 days, but they were treated in a “biased manner” which is condemnable, said Bidhuri, who has been fielded by the BJP as party candidate for the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

 The Delhi Assembly Speaker said that he was informed about Mohan Singh Bisht’s appointment as the new Leader of the Opposition. However, despite being called upon to address the assembly, he did not speak.

 Bidhuri was not present in the House when the discussion on the budget started. When Kejriwal started his speech, the BJP MLAs objected and said at least one opposition member should be allowed to address the House before the chief minister.

 Bisht tried to suggest that Rohini MLA Vijender Gupta should be allowed to speak but the Speaker turned down his request. Finally, the BJP MLAs walked out of the House.

 The statement of the Speaker said that in the democratic spirit, he has always given the opposition legislators more time to speak than the time they would rightfully get based on their actual numbers.

 “But unfortunately they have always engaged themselves in disrupting the due proceedings of the House. Any perceived bias in treatment is unfounded and without merit. The Speaker ensures impartiality in the conduct of the assembly sessions and strives to uphold the dignity of the institution,” he said.

 Bidhuri alleged that Kejriwal government’s budget was “directionless” and the opposition MLAs were prevented from speaking on it as they would have “exposed” the government.