Kolkata, Feb. 1 -- Principal Chief Adviser to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior official of the state finance department, Amit Mitra, launched a scathing attack on the union Budget on Sunday, terming it hostile to the poor, farmers and the middle class, while pointing to substantial cuts in social sector spending over the past decade.
Speaking at a press conference, Mitra said sectors crucial to farmers, young people and marginalised communities have faced consistent reductions in allocations year after year.
He alleged that the impressive figures highlighted in the Budget documents do not translate into real expenditure on the ground.
Referring to education, Mitra said public spending in the sector has steadily decli...