Shimla, March 21 : The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday staged a walkout from the Himachal Pradesh assembly, expressing dissatisfaction over the chief minister's reply to a discussion on the state budget for 2013-14.

The opposition accused the government of being anti-poor and betraying the unemployed youth.

The BJP staged a walkout shortly before the house was to adjourn for the day.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal also accused the government of changing the names of government schemes started during his regime and increasing value added tax (VAT) on shoes, which he said would hit the common man.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, however, said the budget was growth-oriented.

He said the government has started numerous schemes for farmers, including increasing subsidy on poly-houses, high yielding varieties of seeds and hail nets.

Proposing setting up of three new state-of-the-art industrial estates, the chief minister said a special package has been announced for encouraging industrial investment in the state. (IANS)