The Opposition and some key allies of the BJP on Friday slammed the Union Budget as "anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-development" which has failed to address the "real crisis" in agriculture and industry.

Senior Congress leader Shivraj Patil said it was an election-oriented Budget which was "very poor" on agriculture, unemployment and small scale sector.

P R Dasmunsi (Cong) and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav said it was "anti-farmer and anti-working class" which would lead to price rise and unemployment.

Yadav was particularly harsh on the Budget saying it would lead to increase in price of fertilisers and diesel and catered only to "two per cent of the English speaking population."

K Yerrannaidu of the TDP, a key ally of BJP, hit out at the Budget saying it was "not good for the farmers who are already in distress and the enhancement of urea prices will further affect them. The targeted growth of eight per cent would be difficult to achieve in the next three to four years."

"The farmers interest has not been addressed fully even though it has given many facilities to senior citizens and poor people living below the poverty line," said Rashid Alvi, BSP, another ally of BJP.

Describing it as "disappointing and amazingly unrealistic Budget," CPI(M) leader Somnath Chaterjee said like the President's address it had length but no depth. The Budget has not addressed the problems of slow down in agriculture, small scale sector, unemployment and housing, he said.

PTI