Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said the Union budget 2004-05 is "totally faithful" to the Common Minumum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance government.

"Broadly we are totally faithful to the CMP. On the day I assumed office, I said my priorities are agriculture, manufacturing sector and employment," Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.
 
Refusing to respond to the opposition criticism of the Budget, he said: "We will do a lot for agriculture, manufacturing sector and overall take steps to promote employment."