Shimla, March 28 : Himachal Pradesh's opposition BJP Thursday walked out of the state assembly against the refusal of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to reopen eight colleges.

Not satisfied with the reply of the chief minister on the issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, who had moved cut motions for re-notifying the colleges, staged a walkout.

Virbhadra Singh said these colleges were notified during the BJP regime just before the assembly elections without making budgetary provision and allocation of staff and infrastructure.

"I am not opposed to opening of these colleges but the government should have to make budgetary provision for them," he added.

Speaker B. B. Butail put the cut motions to vote after the walkout and these were rejected by a voice vote.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Agnihotri slammed the BJP and said there was no justification for its walkout. (IANS)