Imphal, July 24: Opposition members for the first time in the ongoing Monsoon Session staged a walk out from the House today during the afternoon session to protest a ruling of the Speaker TN Haokip while deliberating on the grant of Rs 122,80,01,000 for the Health and Family Welfare Services and Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development expenditures till March 2004.Commenting on the Speaker's repeated order to the Opposition members to sit down while making a statement saying that the allotted time was over, MLA L Ibomcha stated during the session that it would be more proper if the Speaker uses the sentence "Please take your seat" instead of "Sit Down".

As the tension over the matter of using unparliamentary language in the House began to mount the Opposition members walked out of the House protesting the Speaker's ruling.

Deputy Speaker Lala who presided the morning session was strongly objected by MLA O Joy when he asked the Opposition members not to ask supplementary questions while a questioner is speaking.

Following an unsatisfactory answer given by MAHUD Minister L Nandakumar to a question raised by MLA M Bhorot, there was a heavy argument in the house.

However, matters cooled down as the Chief Minister who is also the leader of the House stood up and told the peeved Opposition members that a satisfactory answer would be given to the House in the afternoon session.

There was also another round of heated argument in the House after supplementary questions regarding construction of BT Flyover were raised by Opposition members following MLA S Gopal quizzing the MAHUD Minister Nandakumar on the issue.

Angered by the Dy Speaker's refusal to allow the Opposition members to supplement the questions raised, MLA N Bihari demanded that Dy Speaker furnish reasons for not allowing them to supplement the questions and further insisted whether he was going to withdraw all the supplementary questions asked earlier in the session.

As the time for discussion on the Budget came, the Speaker and Dy Speaker's notification that only 10 minutes each would be allotted to any member who raises cut motion resulted in an uproar among the Opposition members who stated that it would be better if they remain silent.

Annoyed and furious at not being allowed to speak for more than 10 minutes, Opposition members led by Dr Nimaichand Luwang asked the Speaker to apply the same rule of providing only 10 minutes each to the Ministers.

As a result the Speaker also informed the Ministers that they too would not be allowed to speak for more than 10 minutes each.

Following the ruling Dr Chalton Lien Amo was asked by the Opposition member to stop his speech as his allotted time was over.

Dr Nimaichand Luwang also chipped in saying that a Minister should be able to speak within the allotted time.

Silent protest: Following the walkout at today's assembly session, Opposition members held an informal meeting to discuss on possible form of protest against the Speaker's conduct.

According to source within the Opposition Alliance, the protest is most likely to be held through silent sitting but did not divulge further details contending that a definite decision will be taken by the Opposition leaders tomorrow.