With the BJP and Left criticising President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden address to a joint sitting of Parliament, his son and Congress MP Abhijit today lauded his father and gave full marks saying he was the "best".

"I am proud. I will give him 100 out of 100. I am impressed," Abhijit said when asked about the President's address heralding the Budget session.

Asked whether he liked Mukherjee's budget speeches as Finance Minister or the maiden address as President, Abhijit said, "Since the roles are different, they cannot be compared. He was best as Finance Minister, he will be best as President."

Earlier in the day, opposition BJP termed Mukherjee's address as a damp squib and said the speech did not touch upon relevant issues like price rise and corruption.

The CPI termed it as "uninspiring" as there was nothing in the speech to inspire people and that no steps for tackling the economic crisis were listed.

On the Left and BJP's criticism, the Congress MP from Jangipur, earlier represented by his father, said the President has only followed the protocol in a government system and he cannot do anything as an individual.

"One cannot expect the President to break the protocol and go his own way. In democracy it is not possible, and he will not do it like this," he said.

Abhijit said whatever the President speaks is prepared by the government in consultation with all the stakeholders and that gives a direction to the government's working.

On his expectations from the budget this year, the Congress MP hoped Finance Minister P Chidambaram takes some kind of measures particularly for salaried class and suggested bringing more people under the tax ambit.

"Finance Minister should increase the tax base. Bring more people under the ambit of tax payers and government need not have to increase the tax much," he said.

On having tougher laws for ensuring women's safety, Abhijit said the the existing laws, rules and regulations should be implemented with responsibility and accountability, and there should not be any excess use of power.