Congress leader Rahul Gandhi yesterday alleged that the government had delivered a "zero-sum budget" that has nothing for the middle class, farmers and the poor, drawing a derisive response from Union ministers who suggested that the opposition leader had not understood the "futuristic" measures.

As the two sides exchanged barbs, the opposition party also hit out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accusing her of insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh with her remarks and demanding that she apologise to them.