The UPA’s aam aadmi talk was not reflected in the Budget, which is grossly inadequate to meet the challenges of recession and growing job losses, the CPM said. The government has been “very generous to the khaas aadmi (privileged people) and not the aam aadmi,” said CPM leader Brinda Karat.

While the CPM concluded that the Budget proposals neither provided a stimulus for growth nor met the needs of inclusive growth, it welcomed the Rs 1,000 crore allocation for Bengal to rebuild infrastructure damaged by cyclone Aila.

Sitaram Yechury said the allocations for programmes like the NREGA and funds for food subsidy did not “match the declaration of intent” of the government. In Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the Budget smacked of an extreme drive for privatisation and was disappointing for Kerala on the infrastructure front.