Calcutta, June 26 :    Calcutta, June 26:  A day after Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim decided to have the silver mace removed from the House as legislators often attacked the symbol of his office, a penitent Opposition today clamoured for its restoration. Both the Trinamul Congress and its parent party urged that the silver mace - one its kind in an Indian legislature - be restored. The Opposition's concern was first articulated by Congress' Abdul Mannan who, during a special mention, argued that though the mace had no constitutional sanctity, 'we are very proud of it. This reminds us of the colonial heritage. I would appeal to you to please bring it back to the House where it belongs'. Leader of the Opposition Pankaj Banerjee said the Speaker's decision was 'too hasty'. He added that Halim should have discussed the 'touchy issue' with the members before making the announcement. Halim showed reluctance to readily respond to the Opposition's urgings - the Speaker indicated that the pledge was made and broken several times in the past 25 years. The Speaker yesterday removed the mace during the second half of the session following Tuesday's attack on the marshall and other security staff by Opposition members as they protested against the Wakf scam. With the treasury benches demanding that the Opposition vows to stop unruly behaviour and the latter requesting persistently to restore the mace, the Speaker said: 'Despite strong objection from the core of my heart, I agree to hold an all-party meeting on the issue later.' But he was in no mood to bring back the mace in the current session of the House. 'I am very reluctant to withdraw my decision. In case of any more brawls in the House, I shall be responsible. Who will guarantee the safety and security of the Assembly staff? The staff cannot fight back when attacked by distinguished members,' Halim said. The Speaker considered the presence of the 14-kg mace in the House a menace in view of the 'growing tendency' among some members to show off their muscle power. 'During all-party meetings prior to each session, the members take an oath to maintain the code of conduct and uphold the dignity of the House. But once the House begins, all their promises vanish into thin air and they get into in brawls as usual. Naturally, I found it judicious to keep the mace away,' Halim explained. Recounting that the mace was introduced in 1934 as a symbol of authority of the Chair, Halim said he had never lent his ears to veteran Congress members Zainal Abedin and Subrata Mukherjee who had in the past questioned the utility of the ceremonial staff. Mannan argued that it was the Speaker's job to offer protection to the House staff. 'It is your responsibility to manage any provoked member. You should learn the trick' the Congress member told the Speaker. According to Mannan, he would have opposed the Speaker's motion of withdrawing the mace from the House for good yesterday itself if he could make out what the Speaker was saying. 'Normally no one opposes any motion raised by the Chair. Naturally when you raised the motion, we raised our hands in support. By the time I understood, the motion was passed,' he said.