'Does she prefer avocados over onions' P Chidambaram over FM's 'I don't eat onions' comment

On Wednesday, when the Finance Minister was informing Parliament about the government's decision to import onions from Egypt and other countries, NCP MP Supriya Sule had asked why onion production had gone down.

Another MP had taken a swipe at her, asking if she ate Egyptian onions.

The Finance Minister had replied, "I don't eat a lot of onions and garlic, so don't worry. I come from a family that doesn't have much to do with onions."

Former FinanceMinister P Chidamabaram, who attended Parliament proceedings today after getting bail after more than three months joined the band of opposition leaders in mocking Sitharaman over her statement.

He said, the statement reflected her mindset. "The Finance Minister said yesterday that she doesn't eat onions, so what does she eat? Does she eat avocado?" Chidambaram quipped.

He, however, said in a press conference later that he was not being sarcastic and added that the government should have made the arrangements before the onion crisis hit the country.

"What is the point of importing (onion) now, when will they arrive. But if the finance minister says I don't eat onions, that shows the mindset of this government," he was quoted as saying by NDTV.

In a barbed attack, his son Karti Chidambaram compared the Finance Minister to Marie Antoinette (the French Queen before the French Revolution, who had said to have suggested the peasants ate cake when they did not have bread).

However, the Finance Minister's Office said today that she had been taken out of the contest.

Onion prices have touched Rs 100 across the country, while in many states like West Bengal the bulbed crop is being sold at Rs 150