New Delhi: Major Opposition parties, including Congress, today (Jan 9, 2004) launched a scathing attack on the 'mini-Budget' announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition asserting that people could not be deceived by such "gimmicks" ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Sharply reacting to the cuts in duties and tax exemptions announced by the Government totalling nearly Rs 10,000 crore, Congress President Sonia Gandhi indicated that it reflected the ruling coalition's pro-rich bias.

"Their priority is now clear. There is nothing for kisan (farmer), nothing for mazdoor (worker), weavers and labour class and nothing for rural areas," she told reporters.

Terming the announcement as "poll-centric sops", the party's new found ally DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) said such 'mini-Budget' on the eve of polls was not at all 'acceptable'.

"My only surprise is how Prime Minister A B Vajpayee gave his nod to these concessions, though they will benefit the common people in general," DMK chief M Karunanidhi told reporters in Chennai.

The Left parties, CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and CPI accused the Government of "completely ignoring" Parliament and "violating" Budgetary procedures through the move.

"In its anxiety to gain some short-term rewards before announcing elections prematurely, the Government is willing to damage its finances and risk a fiscal crisis," the CPM) Polit Bureau warned in a statement.

CPI, in a separate statement, said the calculation behind the move was "absolutely to hoodwink the vocal salaried classes by offering few sops and to please the corporate sector by providing a big bonanza."