Imphal, July 25: In an unprecedented manner, Opposition members attended the Assembly session with their mouths covered with pieces of cloth and sat without uttering a single word in protest against what they dubbed, the unparliamentary language used by Speaker TN Haokip while addressing members of the Opposition bench yesterday.

The Opposition members had staged a walk out during the afternoon session of the Assembly protesting against the unparliamentary words used by the Speaker.

The Speaker had asked one of the Opposition members to 'sit down' which was not taken lightly by the Opposition, who insisted that the Speaker could have used better words such as 'Please take your seat'.

The Speaker asked a member of the Opposition to sit down following a debate over the time allotted to the Opposition members.

Speaking to newsmen at the Opposition room of the Assembly today, veteran political figure O Joy said that they were constrained to take up this form of protest as they could no longer tolerate the conduct of the Speaker ever since the Monsoon session of the Assembly kicked off on July 7.Without mincing words, Joy said that if the Speaker apologizes for his unbecoming conduct, then the Opposition would be consider their stand but if he remains adamant, the protest would go on.

The MPP president further said that ever since the Monsoon session started, the biased rulings of the Speaker have been glaring.

The unbecoming conduct of the Speaker has forced the Opposition not to take part in the discussion of the session today, said Joy adding that the protest of the Opposition shows in no uncertain terms how a Parliamentary democracy cannot function without an Opposition.

Coming directly to the point, O Joy said, "The Speaker is not the master but the servant of the House.

The very word 'You sit down' is not Parliamentary".

Instead of using such crude words, the Speaker could have observed some decorum and instead said "Honourable member sit down," or "Honourable member please sit down." The very language of the Speaker has reduced the Parliamentary system of democracy to a farce, charged the Opposition MLA.

The Opposition members kept their mouth sealed during the session to save the spirit of democracy, further said O Joy.

The MPP chief further said that no one can challenge the ruling of the Speaker outside the Assembly but it can be discussed by raising a substantive motion and added that the Opposition may resort to such a move.

To a question, Joy said the few words said by the Speaker at the start of the Assembly cannot be taken as an apology and the Opposition will hot simply welcome the suggestion of the Speaker to sort out the matter in his chamber.

If the Speaker sincerely apologizes for his misdemeanor then the Opposition will reconsider its stand, maintained O Joy.

I Hemochandra also chipped in and said that the Speaker's words cannot be taken as an apology and he cannot order the Opposition to come to his office chamber.

Y Erabot who was also present said that time limits can be set during question hour but there is no ground for applying the same when other vital issues are being discussed.

The discussion held in the Assembly is not for the Opposition or the ruling bench but for the welfare of the people, said Erabot adding that ever since the session started the Speaker has been acting in a partisan manner.