The 2004-05 Union Budget came in for flak from opposition parties which expressed apprehensions of rise in inflation and accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government of not taking any steps to tackle the crisis in agriculture.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described the Budget as a "mixed" one but expressed concern that it would lead to inflation.

Former Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete said the Budget was one full of gimmicks and was not tuned to ground realities.

Another Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu said the finance minister had failed to balance the Budget during the "tightrope" walk between the Left and the Right to remain at the Centre.

Leader of another NDA partner JD(U), Prabhunath Singh, said nothing substantial had been proposed for farmers and the poor and the Budget was only a gimmick.

His senior colleague and former Union Minister Nitish Kumar said the Budget was disappointing sans any content.