Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 28: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of treating Indian businesses as its “plaything” and alleged that business leaders were afraid to speak out amid a dispute over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Tata Group was being “criminally destroyed” and questioned the silence of business leaders over the issue.
“Tata is being criminally destroyed, and no business leader dares say a word. How long will you stay silent? Until they own you? Indian business is not Modi and Shah's plaything. You lack courage. We don't. We will ensure justice for these crimes,” he said.
The remarks come amid a dispute within the Tata Group after Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata challenged the validity of the Tata Sons board resolution reappointing Chandrasekaran. The resolution was passed at a meeting on September 17, with Noel alleging procedural irregularities.
In a letter dated October 26 addressed to Tata Sons Company Secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay, Noel said the agenda circulated to directors had not explicitly mentioned Chandrasekaran’s reappointment. He also alleged that no Selection Committee had been constituted as required under the company’s Articles of Association and that the necessary approvals from directors appointed under Article 104B had not been obtained.
Noel questioned the decision to treat the resolution as final despite unresolved objections. He also alleged that the company had withheld the meeting’s audio and video recordings, final minutes and a certified copy of the resolution despite repeated requests.
“The resolution is void,” Noel stated in the letter, arguing that the reappointment did not comply with the relevant provisions of Tata Sons’ Articles of Association.
He further questioned the circulation of a certified copy of the resolution in the public domain and its reported filing with the Registrar of Companies before the minutes had been finalised.
Seeking to establish the sequence of events at the meeting, Noel said the recordings were the only neutral record of the proceedings. He has sought the recordings, final or revised minutes, voting details, formal notice, different versions of the agenda and documents filed with the Registrar of Companies and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs within seven days.
Noel has also asked Tata Sons to formally inform the Registrar that the resolution’s validity is disputed by a director nominated under Article 104B and by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. He urged the company to refrain from taking further steps on the resolution until the meeting records are settled.