In a no holds bar attack on Congress during her reply in the Rajya Sabha after the discussion on Budget 2022-23, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman countered remarks by a member of the opposition party that not being an elected member of the House, she was not in touch with ground realities.

She hit out at Congress reminding them that former PM Manmohan Singh who led the country for 10 years was also a member of the Rajya Sabha. "Was he (Singh) disconnected from ground reality? Is that what is being suggested by the member who told me that I am unconnected to the ground? I am sorry, 10 years being guided by a Prime Minister from this august House, I do not expect a Member to suggest that to me."

She added, "There was this indication by a respected member - he is not here so I am not taking his name - he said: "The finance minister is not elected and so she doesn't know the ground realities. And her party should send her to get elected from the ground to know realities," Sitharaman said.

Taking aim at the Gandhis, she said, "If we do not have a vision for India @ 100, we will suffer similarly, as was the first 70 years, when 65 years were with Congress, which had no vision except for supporting, building and benefiting one family. Except for that, there was no vision in India."

Refuting the charge that the government was not doing enough for the poor in the Budget, she targeted MP Rahul Gandhi. "What is the poor that you are talking about?," she asked. "Your former (Congress) chief said poverty doesn't mean scarcity of food, money or material things. If one possesses self-confidence, then one can overcome it. He said it's a state of mind. I've not named the person but we know who it is."

Her remarks were greeted with protests from the opposition benches. An unfazed Sitharaman continued, "Rahu kaal is where Congress is in shaasan (power), where they go and say, ladki hoon lad sakti hoon," mocking the slogan coined by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and reminding the House of cases of assault on women reported from Congress-governed Rajasthan.

(With inputs from agencies)