The CPI on Friday trashed the General Budget, saying it was "too nominal" and "too inconsequential" in meeting the challenges posed by the economic slowdown.

Participating in the debate on the budget in the Lok Sabha, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta also questioned the figures of inflation given by the government, saying the "statistical jugglery" showed it to be negative while in reality the prices of essential commodities are very high.

"The Budget is too ambitious on the one hand and on the other hand, it is too nominal... It is too inconsequential," he said, while arguing that there was very little focus on uplift of the social sector.

He contended that the Budget proposals would not be able to meet the challenges posed by the economic downturn, particularly in the aspects of job loss and crisis in agriculture sector.

Mr. Dasgupta said the budget has not taken into consideration the impending threat of drought and its impact on prices. "It is a serious omission. I hope government will make contingency plans to take care of the impending drought," he said.

Referring to the promise of 12 lakh job creation, he said it did not seem to be realistic.