After three successive walkouts from the House, Opposition BJP on Thursday attended the Assembly but wore black ribbons on their face to protest denial of permission to speak to the leader of Opposition by Speaker on Wednesday.
As soon as deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi entered the House and ordered for start of proceedings in the absence of Speaker Brij Biharilal Butail, BJP MlAs entered the House with black ribbons around their face and attended the Question Hour without doing any sloganeering unlike other days of protest.
On Wednesday, leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal was not allowed to speak by the Speaker prompting the Opposition to allege that attempts are being made to suppress the voice of Opposition. Only Congress MlAs participated in the Question Hour while BJP MlAs remained silent and did not ask any questions. After the Question Hour, BJP MlAs walked out of the house and did not participated in proceedings.
BJP MlA Ravinder Singh Ravi said that Opposition wore black ribbon as a mark of protest since Prem Kumar Dhumal was not allowed to speak in the House. "Our protests will continue till decision is not given on our privilege motion against the Chief Minister for his humiliating remarks on BJP MlAs and reply on the status of chargesheet of BJP submitted to Governor Urmila Singh," said Ravi.