New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- The debate on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha on Monday opened with a scathing attack by senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who listed four major economic challenges -stalled capital investment, rising unemployment, slowing growth, and weak fiscal consolidation - and accusing the government of being disconnected from ground realities and presenting what he termed a "forgettable" Budget.

Chidambaram questioned whether the government had even read the Economic Survey, saying, "The most charitable view is that they don't care for the Chief Economic Adviser. The uncharitable view is that while the Chief Economic Adviser is bringing the government down to earth, the ministers want to soar high and reach another pl...