Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan on Friday lashed out at the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government over the state budget presented in the assembly on Thursday.

Raising questions on the budget which was presented by deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who handles the finance portfolio, Haasan pointed at the “unfulfilled promises” and said that it had nothing for farmers, weavers and fishermen.

“Budget speech seems largely a photocopy of previous year(s). Nothing significant for farmers, weaver and fishermen,” he said in a statement issued by MNM on Twitter following a “limited review” of the budget.

Haasan, who calls himself a rationalist, also raised questions on why the Budget made no mention of Hindu religious and charitable endowments.

“Has the department vanished like the 1000 idols that have gone missing?” he said referring to the numerous cases of missing idols of Hindu deities reported from the state.

At the same time, the 63-year-old actor-turned-politician asked how the minorities in the state trust a government to fulfil its promises when it abruptly cancels the election for the Wakf board head.

In the statement, Haasan said that government has failed in skill development and job provision for the youth. He said that while the budget says that only 4 lakh have undergone skill development training and just 1 lakh have been placed in the last 7 years, there are around 1 crore job seekers.

He also said that the standard of education in the state has taken a beating despite the government spending Rs 27,000 crore on school education.

“Quality of education has deteriorated with Tamil Nadu students significantly below nation average in all subjects including Tamil. We need outcomes, not outlays,” the statement said.

Haasan, who launched his party on 21 February from Madurai, asked the government to furnish a White Paper on work done on Kudimaramathu, a traditional system of maintenance of water bodies with participation of local farmers, which has been allocated Rs 300 crore just like last year.

“Will the allocation of Rs 250 crore for Athikadavu-Avinashi be a mirage like last year?” he asked. The project is aimed at bringing drinking water and irrigation to western part of Tamil Nadu.

Haasan demanded that the Tamil Nadu government immediately grant permits to local industries while pointing out that while Rs 2.42 lakh crore was committed in the Global Investors meet in 2015, only Rs 62,738 crores are under implementation.

“My people deserve better representatives to script their future,” he said.

Panneerselvam on presented the budget for the year 2018-19 that projected a revenue deficit of Rs 17,491 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 44,481 crore.

He said the total revenue for the state, including transfers from the central government, were estimated at Rs 176,251 crore for the next fiscal. The expenditure for the next fiscal is estimated at Rs 193,742 crore.

He said that the economy would pick up the next fiscal.