Shimla, Aug. 25 -- The third day of the monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly was marked by commotion, protests, walkout by the Opposition as the deadlock between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued on Monday as well as both sides traded barbs. The ruckus broke out as soon as the leader of Opposition (LoP), Jai Ram Thakur, raised the issue of playing the clip of proceedings of August 21 to ascertain the truth behind the CM's accusation of BJP insulting the national anthem. "The video clip showing the National Anthem being played on the opening day of the session must be provided to us, so that everyone gets to know the truth. Sentiments of the opposition have been hurt by alleging that the National Anthem has been insulted, hence, we need to verify this," said Thakur while urging the Speaker to play the clip. Terming the BJP's protest as "unreasonable and uncalled for", assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said, "The session will commence with the National Anthem and conclude with the national song." Though he said that the request for the video by BJP legislators was being examined. As the Speaker ordered the start of the Question Hour, the opposition staged a walkout. "Respective Vidhan Sabhas have the right to decide when to play the National Anthem and the song, which are equally respected by both the ruling and opposition parties," said Pathnia while adding that the July 9 circular by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was received with instructions, which has not been sent to the Vidhan Sabha. However, the Opposition remained adamant on being provided the video clip of the first day of the session. No precedent for showing footage: Agnihotri Deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the LoP is the senior most member of the House, so let him cite one instance or convention when a video clip has been played in the House. Agnihotri said, "There is no parliamentary precedent for sharing such footage. The Speaker also rejected the opposition's demand. Speaker's ruling, who has the authority to take the final decision, will be acceptable to all". He added, "Congress does not discriminate between the National Anthem and the Vande Mataram song and has respect for both in the same spirit." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said it appears that the Opposition is not in a "mood to let the house run and is creating a conflict between National Anthem and National Song". Speaker shielding CM's lies: Thakur Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Speaker. Speaking to reporters after moving out of the House in protest, Jai Ram stated, "The CM had leveled serious allegations against the opposition regarding the disrespect of the National Anthem in the House. The recording is not being made public because it would not reveal any instance of an opposition MLA disrespecting the National Anthem. He alleged that the video is being withheld to avoid contradicting the CM's statement". Thakur said, " Instead of exposing the CM's allegations, the Speaker is covering up his statement". Accusing Congress of large-scale corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators staged a protest on the premises of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday, before the third day of the session commenced. BJP legislators held a protest with suitcases raising slogans alleging large scale corruption in the state. In June this year former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and son of an Agriculture Minister, Neeraj Bharti, had made serious allegations regarding 'briefcases.' Without naming anyone, he had stated that two briefcases are kept for oneself while three are sent to Delhi. Speaking to mediapersons in Shimla on the sidelines of the protest, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said, "The current government is completely mired in corruption. The entire state is suffering. Development works have virtually come to a standstill and corruption has crossed all limits." "Every work has a person fixed for it and a commission is fixed," he alleged, citing departments and areas including road-related works, health supplies, medicines, education supplies and government tenders. Thakur alleged that conditions were being incorporated into tenders to favour particular individuals, contractors or companies."These things are happening in an organised manner. If one has to see the worst form of corruption in Himachal Pradesh, it is being seen under the Sukhu government," he alleged. During the protest, Thakur said the BJP would continue to "expose what it termed the government's failures and corruption".He also referred to the recently held Panchayat elections, claiming that the results reflected public dissatisfaction with the Congress government. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu strongly hit back at the BJP over its protest involving suitcases. Reacting to BJP allegations of corruption against his government, Sukhu said, "We have zero tolerance to corruption. In more than 3 years of our government neither any minister in the cabinet nor the government had faced such allegations in the manner being portrayed by the opposition". Dismissing the protest as "mere theatrics", Sukhu said, "BJP's protest with briefcases was an attempt to level allegations against a government that, according to him, was committed to clean governance". "I wondered why they had brought briefcases. Where did this briefcase politics come from?" he said, referring to the political developments surrounding the defection of six Congress MLAs. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Sukhu said the briefcases carried by the opposition were empty and alleged that the BJP had itself started the "briefcase" tradition in Himachal politics. Sukhu was talking to mediapersons after returning to Shimla from Varanasi. "Those who are honest should not be pointing fingers. Those who are associated with corruption are the ones who distribute briefcases," he said. He further alleged that the BJP's protest was aimed at diverting attention from issues concerning the state and the public. He alleged that the BJP needed to answer questions related to alleged irregularities concerning HimCare and other government schemes, liquor contracts and other matters. Sukhu said his government would ensure that any wealth allegedly accumulated by corrupt means was brought before the people....