Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday described Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi an "alien" who is "oblivious about the ground level situation in villages".

Slamming Gandhi for saying that "poverty is state of mind ", Badal said: "It is surprising that leaders who have not fought even panchayat elections are ruling the country. Without any knowledge of ground level situation, they are framing policies from air-conditioned rooms in Delhi."

Badal was addressing a gathering at Fatehgarh Sahib, 60 km from here, after administering oath to newly elected village representatives.

Taking a dig at the Congress leadership, Badal said: "Indira Gandhi gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty), and now her grandson (Rahul Gandhi) is bent on removing the poor from the country."

He said the Akali Dal government introduced several welfare schemes for the poor but the Congress leadership tried to scuttle these.

Badal said it was laughable that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who decried Punjab's 'Atta-Dal' scheme a wasteful expenditure, was copying the scheme in the food security ordinance.

PM not in control

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was "not in control" of the situation in the country with even smaller neighbouring countries "showing eyes" to India, said Shiromani Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday.

"India is suffering at every international forum because of weak-kneed policies of the Congress-led UPA government. Even Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh are showing eyes to India. Realizing the fact that the prime minister of India was not in control of the situation, every neighbour is entering India with immunity and India is failing to safeguard its territorial borders," Badal said.

He added that "every third day China enters India and now Pakistan is gloating after killing five soldiers after entering in Indian territory".

Badal said that India failed to give a strong message to Pakistan after barbaric attack on Mumbai on 26/11 and later after beheading of two soldiers.

"By its repeated incursions Pakistan is exposing the hollowness of future super power India," Badal said in Fatehgarh Sahib, 60 km from here.