THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Finance Minister K N Balagopal has come forward harshly criticizing the union budget. The budget that was presented amidst the largest crisis, does not rise up to the expectations, said the minister.

The budget does not provide any action to increase job opportunities. The amount allocated for the agricultural sector is far less than that of last year’s budget, said the minister. Rs 39,000 crores were allocated for vaccines, last year. It has been reduced to Rs 5000 crores, this year. Vaccines have not yet reached everyone. The administration of second dose is still going on and booster doses also need to be administered. It is in this situation that the amount has been reduced, he criticized.

The budget has not given any importance for youth, farmers, middle class, salaried class and MSMEs, alleged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This is a zero-sum budget, he said. Budget has zero for common people who are getting crushed by unemployment, said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She described the budget as ‘a Pegasus spin budget’.